Prohibitory period extended in Kathmandu valley till August 24

Three District Administration Offices of Kathmandu valley have extended the prohibitory period that will come into effect from August 12 to 24.

As per the order issued by Chief District Officers (CDOs) of the valley, the prohibitory order has been extended by a week.

The prohibitory period has been extended in the valley as per the decision of the Council of Ministers, Section 4 of COVID-19 Crisis Management Ordinance, 2078 and Sub-section 3 of Section 6 of Local Administration Act, 2028.

As per the order, all kinds of meetings, conventions and gatherings at the party palace, cinema hall restaurant, theatre, club, swimming pool, fun park, museum, stadium have been banned. Likewise, the crowding, gatherings, mass gathering, rallies, religious processions, ceremonial functions, attending feast and festivities in open space have also been banned.

The temples have been directed to conduct regular worshipping and not to hold other religious and cultural rituals during this period. The educational institution including, schools, colleges, tuition centres and training centres are not allowed to run the classes in the physical presence of teachers and students.

The deliveries of goods are not allowed from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

The vehicles providing essential services and transporting essential goods including the ones entering Kathmandu valley have to reach the destinations within 8:00 pm.

Likewise, the stores selling medicines and health equipment will be allowed to open anytime while other shops and stores have been ordered to open till 7:00 pm. All the shops and stores should follow the health protocols and arrange for the sanitisers for the customers.

Similarly, the businesses being operated through online order, the restaurants delivering to the homes will be allowed to open till 7:00 pm.

The prohibitory order has mentioned that people going outdoor have to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres. The use of masks and washing hands with soap and water has been made compulsory.

For the public transportation sector, the DAO has ordered to make available sanitisers for passengers and compulsorily use masks and do not allow passengers more than the seating capacity. Likewise, the battery-powered auto-rickshaw are allowed to allow eight passengers only and the driver's cabin have to be partitioned with a plastic cover.

Similarly, private vehicles will be allowed to operate under the condition of following health safety measures. The vehicles delivering construction materials can ply the road from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am.

It has been stated in the prohibitory order that an examination hall cannot have more than 25 examinees. The examinees will have to strictly follow the health protocols. The examinations have to be held turn by turn.

All the seminars, training, meeting among other workshops have to be held virtually.

People who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or under contact tracing have been urged to immediately contact the local level, district hospital for the free antigen and RT-PCR tests.

If anybody found disobeying the prohibitory order will be punished, Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu, Kali Prasad Parajuli told NepalNews.