Govt likely to relax lockdown, declare public health emergency

KATHMANDU, June 4: The government is preparing to relax the nationwide lockdown which is in force since March 24.

A meeting of the Council of Minister scheduled for today afternoon is expected to decide on the new modality of lockdown resuming the economy that has remained shut for almost three months, according to sources at the ministry.

But, since the coronavirus cases continue to surge in the country with more than 200 cases reported every day, the government is also expected to declare a state of public health emergency.

The government can declare public health emergency after the number of cases surpass 2,000 as per the COVID-19 Health Emergency Response Plan. Nepal’s total cases has reached 2,300. So far, nine people have lost their lives in the country due to the pandemic.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Population had recommended the government to declare health emergency as per the Infectious Disease Act, 1964.

Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli had also held a meeting with economists and health experts yesterday.