Nepal to suspend int'l flights from May 7 to 15

The government has decided to suspend all international flights except flights between Nepal and India under the air bubble arrangement. The suspension of domestic flights has already come into effect from May 3 midnight (23:59) and will remain effective until May 14 midnight. 

Likewise, suspension of international flights — all schedule and passenger charter — except flights between Nepal and India will take effect from May 6 midnight to May 14 midnight, Spokesperson for Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), Raj Kumar Chhetri told NepalNews.

Due to the existing pandemic situation relating to the new variants of COVID 19 across the world, the Council of Ministers made such decisions on Sunday, so as to prevent and control the disease in the country, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Tourism, Prem Subedi told NepalNews.

There will be only two flights a week, one flight each by Nepal Airlines and Air India under Air Travel Bubble Arrangement between Nepal and India during the period of one week.

As per the new rules set by the authorities, arriving passenger will have to undergo mandatory quarantine at their own cost for 10 days at hotels enlisted by the Tourism and Aviation Ministry.

The new rule states that any passenger violating the quarantine provision will be penalised in accordance with the Infectious Diseases Act, 2020 (1964 CE).

Likewise, the airline found boarded any PCR Positive passenger shall be liable to bear the cost of hotel quarantine of all passengers aboard that aircraft.

From now on, the passengers are required to furnish a PCR report with photo identification and barcode while arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.

The cabinet meeting held on Sunday decided to suspend all domestic flights starting from Monday midnight," Undersecretary at the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Tourism, Prem Subedi told NepalNews.

The government's decision came after the Health Ministry on Sunday confirmed infections for 7,137 people, a new daily record in infections since the pandemic hit the country early last year.

Nepal witnessed less than 100 cases for most of the days in March but saw a continuous rise of cases since April with over 7,000 cases reported on Sunday for the first time. Meanwhile, the ministry recorded 7,388 new cases and 37 deaths, another highest daily cases as well as deaths on Monday. 

The government has also issued fortnightly prohibitory order in Kathmandu Valley starting from April 29 while lockdown has also been imposed in different parts of the country.

In order to address the human resource crisis, the Health Ministry has decided to ask medical colleges to mobilise their faculty members and students for the treatment of patients in different hospitals.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday in his special address to the nation pledged to establish the main hospitals into COVID treating centres and others into non-COVID hospitals. The PM also pledged to establish oxygen plants in different places to ensure the smooth supply of life-saving gas.