Kathmandu Administration issues orders for COVID prevention

All three administration offices in the Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur) have issued an 18-point order today urging to take precautions to stop the possible third wave of COVID-19.

A meeting of the chiefs and security officers of all the three administration offices today issued orders related to health safety precautions. Warning has also been given to take action against violators. The order was issued using the recommendation of the Covid-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) and the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Article 2 of the Infectious Diseases Control Act, 2020, and Article 6 of the Local Administration Act to make corona prevention, control and treatment more effective. It is mentioned in the information issued by the administration office. The order will take effect from 12AM tonight.

According to the order, the people of the valley are urged to use masks when going out of their homes or going to public places, to maintain physical distance, to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water, to use sanitizer, and adhere to health safety standards.

While conducting political, economic, social, business, and other activities, it has been urged to fully comply with the health safety standards and to halt all kinds of political and public events in public places. An order has been issued requiring the permission of the local administration for urgent and regular work.

The order states that no more than 25 people should be allowed to attend any event, and when going to public places (hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, theaters, airports, parks, etc.) from January 7, the vaccination proof against COVID (even if there is a photo on the mobile) should be kept with them. An order has been issued to make it compulsory to have a vaccination card while availing the services.

The District Health Office, in coordination with the local level, has called upon the students of all the schools in the age group of 12 to 17 years to make a schedule and implement it. As per the directive of the Ministry of Education, it has been ordered not to teach in physical presence till January 29 and to manage the Z-shaped seating structure by adopting the health criteria in the case of the pre-determined semester and annual examinations.

It has been asked to work in a way that does not crowd the office which is congested with the flow of public services. Private health institutions and the local levels in the district have been ordered to strengthen the treatment and isolation center prepared in the past and bring it into operation. In order to facilitate the supply of oxygen cylinders, the cylinders used in the second wave of coronavirus have been requested to be handed over to hospitals, industries, and the local levels. It has been warned not to carry more passengers than the seating capacity in public transport, not to carry passengers without masks, and to fulfill all health criteria.

Emergency and regular monitoring will be carried out by the security forces to ensure effective compliance with the corona-order. It has been warned to take action as per the Infectious Diseases Act, 2020 if any violation is found in the monitoring. The order states that those who create an artificial shortage of essential commodities including medicines, increase prices, promote black market and obstruct the supply will be punished according to the law.