Nationwide lockdown to continue till April 15: Govt Spokesperson

Kathmandu -Taken as an initiative to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing nationwide lockdown order issued by the government has been extended till April 15 midnight. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held today decided to seal off Nepal’s international borders till April 15 to prevent the infection of the COVID-19 from the external sources, the Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada said. The government has been imposing the lockdown order since March 24, as per the Infectious Disease Control Act 1964.

However, despite the lockdown order to prevent the human mobility, supplies of goods from the international borders shall remain unhindered. Likewise, the government has decided to support Rs 1,500 in cash as one-time incentive to the community female health volunteers. Minister Dr Khatiwada said that the doctors of the private hospitals wishing to cater services to the patients from the government hospitals would be given facilities equal to the government services after the adjustment. The government decided to let the suspected people under 14-day quarantine to go home after the rapid diagnostic tests but they must stay in home quarantine for a week after their release. The local level would monitor whether they are living in home quarantine. Similarly, the cabinet meeting has assigned additional responsibilities to coordinate with the state governments to some ministers who are not included in the high-level coordination committee on corona virus control and prevention.