Govt enforces week-long nationwide lockdown from Tuesday

KATHMANDU, March 23: The government has decided to enforce a week-long nationwide lockdown from 6 am tomorrow.

The decision comes after the Health Ministry confirmed the second case of coronavirus on Monday. A 19-year old girl who came to Kathmandu from France via Qatar transit had tested positive for the virus. She has been placed in isolation and receiving treatment at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku.

A meeting of the High-level Coordination Committee to prevent and control the coronavirus led by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister on Monday took the decision to impose a complete lockdown throughout the nation.

People will not be allowed to come out of their houses except for essential tasks such as medical treatment and buying of food.

All the private and public vehicles except those used by security forces, health institutions and vehicles with permits will be prohibited.

Likewise, all the government offices except those providing essential services like health, security, food, drinking water, dairy, electricity, telecom, information and communication, custom, quarantine and waste management will be closed.

The meeting has also decided to suspend all commercial domestic flights.

The lockdown will remain in effect until 6 am on March 31.