Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli calls for strong vigil along country's southern border as corona cases rises

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has instructed authorities to intensify vigil along country's sourn border with India due to a sudden spike in number of coronavirus patients and directed officials to properly man lockdown, Cabinet sources said on Tuesday.

Oli's instructions came on a day when landlocked Himalayan nation reported 57 new COVID-19 cases, highest in a single day, taking total number of infections to 191.

Oli, who chaired a Cabinet meeting here, instructed authorities to intensify vigil in sourn border with India in view of increasing number of coronavirus patients in Nepal, calling for tightening of lockdown, sources said.

Nepal, which has entered 50th day of its nationwide lockdown on Tuesday to contain spre of coronavirus, is among nations that has least number of cases of COVID-19 with deaths.

On Tuesday, Nepal's health authorities anunced 57 new COVID-19 cases.

"Among infected, eight persons are from Kapilvastu district, nine from Rupandehi, 39 from Parsa, and one from Bara. All of m are males. This was highest number of coronavirus cases reported in a day," health ministry said in a statement.

total number of infected people in country has reached 191, ministry confirmed.

Of total cases, 33 patients have alrey been discharged after successful treatment and 158 active patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals across country. So far re is death related to coronavirus in country.

On Monday, Nepal government said nation reported 24 new coronavirus cases, including eight who returned from India.

Earlier, some of confirmed coronavirus cases in Nepal were persons returning from Tablighi Jamaat garing in New Delhi's Nizamuddin area in March

re are reports of hundreds of people entering country daily through different border points despite deployment of security personnel at all major entry points along Nepal-India border to check cross-border movement of people during lockdown.