KARNALI: Schools in Karnali started operation after a nine-month hiatus with the federal government's approval for the same. However, after being open for around three weeks, the schools have had to shut again following the transmission of coronavirus among teachers and students.

The schools had to be closed after 17 teachers were diagnosed with COVID-19 in a test carried out at the Karnali Provincial Hospital.

Chief of Public Health Office, Surkhet, Chetan Nidhi Wagle shared that the situation for shutting down schools emerged after a total of 17 teachers -- 11 from the same school -- in Surkhet contracted the virus.

Those infected are now staying in home isolation and are in normal health condition, he added. The infection has also been detected among four students, he further said.

The 11 infected teachers are from Surya Prakash Secondary School in Panchapuri Municipality of Surkhet, shared chief of health section at Panchanpuri Municipalilty, Ganga Dev Puri. Likewise, two teachers of Bidya Jyoti Secondary School of the same municipality have also tested positive for the novel coronavirus.