NCCC suggests extension of lockdown

Kathmandu - The National Concern and Coordination Committee of the National Assembly has suggested the government to extend the nationwise lockdown in view of COVID-19 infection. The Committee has drawn the attention of the government to take decisions in loosening and tightening lockdown after categorising infection areas into green zone, red zone and yellow zone in view of country's geography and gravity of infection, said the Committee's Chair Dil Kumari Rawal.

The Committee has also extended thanks to those stakeholders and people for preventing infection by obeying lockdown and following other preventive measures. It asked concerned authorities to continue tests for the virus and supply of daily essentials and manage health institutions including district hospital and corona hospital.

The Committee has drawn the attention of the government to coordinate with the federal, state and local level regarding prevention and control of the infection, bring policies and budget to manage agriculture sector, manage health and prioritise national pride projects, said Rawal. It also suggested the central and state governments to release funds to local levels to distribute as reliefs to workers and the poor affected by lockdown and for the local levels to distribute relief materials in one-door policy set up by the government.

The committee suggested concerned authorities to pay 'special' attentions to people with disabilities, children, senior citizens, people with chronic diseases and pregnant women and manage seeds and fertilizers for farmers at this time of crisis. The Committee has also directed 'special' tests of drivers of trucks and lorries carrying goods to Nepal from India and Nepalis returning home from foreign countries.