Govt issues new directives to contain pandemic

• Educational institutions in major cities including the capital city directed to operate classes virtually until mid-May
• Prescheduled examinations of academic institutions to be conducted adopting strict health protocols
• Cinema halls, party palaces among other entertainment sections to be closed
• Gathering of more than 25 persons restricted at temples and other religious sites 
• Local administration has to be informed in advance for necessary public gatherings
• Hotels and restaurants should operate only from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, (Home delivery services can be operated before and after the specified time)

The government has issued new directives to contain the coronavirus infection as new cases have been increasing rapidly. 

The Ministry of Health and Population Monday reported 1,227 new cases of coronavirus infection, the highest during the second wave of COVID-19 in the country. It has been noted that the recovery rate has also significantly dropped to 96.4 per cent in comparison to Sunday's 96.7 per cent.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held Monday issued such directive as per the Clause (2) of the Infectious Disease Control Act, 1964, Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Parbat Gurung said.

As per the decision, the schools, training centres and academic institutions have been directed to operate classes virtually until mid-May in major cities including Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bharatpur, Pokhara, Itahari, Dharan, Janakpur, Hetauda, Butwal, Ghorahi, Tulsipur, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi, Mechinagar, Birtamod, Damak, Rajbiraj, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Siddharthanagar, Birendranagar and Bhimdattanagar.

However, the prescheduled examinations of schools and colleges and all the practical examinations of medical education shall continue by applying public health protocol.

Likewise, cinema halls, party palaces, duet songs clubs, dance clubs, health clubs, gymnasiums, swimming pools, futsal, mass meetings, stadium and all types of public gatherings have been directed to close.

Further, the government has restricted the gathering of more than 25 people in temples, mosques, monastery and churches among other religious sites.

Furthermore, prior approval from the local administration is expected for conducting social and religious functions in the party palaces.

Likewise, assembly, conferences, seminars and training should be conducted virtually and more than 25 persons' participation is rejected in case such events should be done compulsorily.

Public vehicles are ordered to carry only a limited number of passengers on the basis of the vehicles' seats, use of face mask and hand sanitiser is made mandatory for passengers, drivers and co-drivers. As per the decision, public vehicles should be disinfected every day.

Likewise, the hotels and restaurants should operate only from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm by applying health precautions and home delivery service should be given before and after the given time.

On a different note, government spokesperson Gurung said the government ended the parliament session due to the increasing threat of coronavirus and also due to acts of some parties stopping the parliament from functioning.

The opposition parties also had the opportunity to change the government but they did not, he said in response to a query about the parliament being prorogued to avoid a no-confidence motion.

(With inputs from RSS)