Kathmandu DAO urges all to adopt health protocols to prevent third wave

The District Administration Office (DAO), Kathmandu has urged one and all to strictly follow the health safety measures citing the risk of the third wave of COID-19 in the country.

As the coronavirus infection rate has been rising in various districts including Kathmandu valley for a few weeks, ICU wards, ventilators and hospital beds are being occupied with the increase of inpatients infected with coronavirus, the DAO has stated in a notice issued today.

Kathmandu's Chief District Officer (CDO) Kali Prasad Parajuli was of the view that everybody should realise their own responsibility in preventing the third wave of COVID-19. He appealed to all to use masks, sanitiser and maintain physical distance to make the ongoing prohibitory order effective.

Nepal has witnessed a rise in the number of coronavirus cases since the government has imposed ‘smart lockdown’ by maintaining the safety parameters but easing the production and supply of essential goods.

Meanwhile, the three districts of Kathmandu Valley — Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur — have planned to extend the lockdown by one week from August 5 to 11. The CDOs have yet to decide on the modality of the lockdown.

In the past week, Nepal has witnessed 2,386 new COVID-19 cases on average on daily basis as per data released by the Ministry of Health and Population. 

Meanwhile, India's COVID-19 tally has risen to 31,726,507 on Tuesday as 30,549 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours across the country.

The DAO has further requested all to avoid public gatherings, crowds, mass gatherings, sit-ins, rallies and seminars. Anyone found flouting the health protocols will be punished, CDO Parajuli told NepalNews. 

Punishment in violation of prohibitory order:

The prohibitory order has been issued as per Section 2 of the Communicable Disease Act, 2020 and Sub-section 3 of Section 6 of Local Administration Act, 2028.

A person who violates this Act or disregards any order issued under this Act shall be liable to punishment of imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or a fine not exceeding Rs 100 or with both. Likewise, a person who obstructs a person authorised under this Act with the performance of his/her duties shall be liable to punishment of imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding Rs 600 or with both.

As per the Local Administration Act, 2028, a person who violates this Act or disregards any order issued under this Act shall be liable to punishment of imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or a fine not exceeding Rs 500 or the chief district officer (CDO) can charge the offender with both.