• The ongoing lockdown/prohibitory order in Kathmandu • Public health experts say that the government's rapid Valley that had initially been imposed on 29 April and re- reopening of the economy may invite a third wave of issued several times, has been extended with further coronavirus as little attention is given to enforce the relaxations modality till 25 July. Businesses will be curbs. Despite the orders, many businesses and public allowed to operate till 7 PM. However, restrictions on vehicles are not following the safety protocols and activities that can lead to overcrowding such as measures, which may give rise to COVID-19 cases. conferences, cinema halls, party palaces, swimming • The Government is administering Vero Cell and Johnson pools and other sports, gathering at public spaces, and Johnson vaccine. As of 19 July, 3,067,118 people religious gatherings, as well as educational institutions have received their first shot and 1,134,317 people have are still on. received both shots of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nepal. • According to the Ministry of Health and Population • China pledges additional 1.6 million vaccine doses to (MoHP), the COVID-19 infection rate has been around 18 Nepal. With this announcement, China has become by far to 20 per cent in Nepal for the last three weeks. the largest vaccine donating country to Nepal. In total, • On 12 July, Nepal's Supreme Court directed President Nepal will receive 3.4 million doses of Chinese vaccines. Bidya Devi Bhandari to appoint Nepali Congress Party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba as Prime Minister and reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives. On 13 (Source: MoHP, UN, Media) July, Deuba was sworn in as Nepal's new Prime Minister. Deuba has said that the main priority of his government is vaccination against the coronavirus. The new government has pledged to vaccinate a third of its people in the next three months and every Nepali by April 2020.

Doti, Achham, Dailekh, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Banke and Bardiya (based on the DCA’s partners’ weekly report and meeting)

• The lockdown period in most of DCA's working areas has extended with different modalities. this, people have started work and daily activities. • In Doti District, the COVID-19 cases are decreasing Most of the markets and all Municipality offices are with 7 active cases who are in home isolation. Due to open.

• In Achham District, life is getting back to normal with farmers have resumed paddy, corn plantation and the movement of people on the rise. People are not commercial farming. Vaccination drive has begun for following COVID-19 safety protocols. The local people above 55 years old. transport in some parts of the district is disturbed due • In Kailali District, COVID-19 cases are increasing day to the rainfall. by day which is of concern. Due to heavy rainfall, • In Bardiya District, COVID-19 cases are decreasing. floods in different areas have caused damage to Life is much normal, and people have returned to individual houses in Bhajani and Godawari. their respective occupations. There is no rainfall since • In Banke District, COVID-19 cases are decreasing. The a month in Barbardiya Municipality, thus farmers are situation is challenging for migrant workers as they do facing a drought situation. not have work nor land for cultivation. The area is • In Dailekh District, COVID-19 cases have decreased. high in the risk zone for COVID-19 transmission due to Farmers, daily wage earners, women face high levels the open border between Nepal and India. of poverty, malnutrition, and poor health. • In Kanchanpur District, COVID-19 positive cases are slightly increasing after the ease of lockdown as people are not following safety protocols. The

• Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) of Gauriganga Municipality in Kailali District organised a street rally on 13 July to raise awareness about the proper use of mask to reduce the risk of COVID-19 with the help of local scouts, who also distributed 150 masks to people without masks. • COVID-19 safety kits were provided to HRDs of Lumbini and Sudurpaschhim Provinces. • Health commodities supported to Laljhadi and Belauri health units in Kanchanpur District, Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) and help desk. • Handwashing stations installed in 19 public places in Barbardiya Municipality, Bardiya District. • 2 cases related to women protection was supported to get access to justice by HRDs in Gauriganga Municipality. One was related to child marriage while the other to domestic violence. • Mobile message campaign on COVID - 19 awareness ongoing in Achham District. • Help desks are providing awareness, tracing the clusters or areas that need counselling and mobilising volunteers, FCHVs for door-to-door checkups and referrals. • Counselling through phone to the COVID-19 affected people in home isolation ongoing in Kanchanpur District.

Handwash station handover Health and hygiene kit distribution

Handover of health items Food items being collected from store after voucher support

DCA through its local partner NNSWA has initiated the distribution of food and nutrition vouchers in Bheemdatta Municipality. The voucher will be distributed to 500 vulnerable families, out of which 100 have already received it. Each voucher is worth NPR 4500, beneficiaries with the voucher can go to any specified shops and get the food items as listed. This supported has been possible through DANIDA.

.

DCA through its local partner DWRF distributed nutrition and hygiene items to 171 pregnant and lactating mothers. 106 FCHVs were also supported with health and hygiene package. These distributions were done under the project ADHAR, funded by Danmarks Indsamling and covered Kailari Rural Municipality and Gauriganga Municipality in Kailali District.