As new cases of COVID19 infection have increased after the removal of the lockdown, the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) has started discussions on the need to bring a new lockdown modality if the situation persists.
CCMC’s meeting held on Thursday also discussed about increasing the number of tests for a few days and assess the situation.
The number of deaths due to COVID-19 stood at 40 in the country when the (partial) end of lockdown announcement was made on July 21. However, 16 people have died in the past nine days after lockdown restrictions were eased.
Similarly, the number of infected people has increased from 17,994 on July 20 to 19,547 by July 30.
In a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Ishwor Pokharel, CCMC members concluded that the number of tests should be extended for a day or two and a new decision should be taken if the infection rate is found to have increased, informed Mahendra Prasad Guragain, secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
He informed that the meeting also discussed the criteria prepared by the concerned ministries for the operation of long distance transport services and domestic as well as international flights after August 17.
While full-fledged short-distance transport services – private and public – resumed from July 22 and government offices started operating in a single shift instead of the earlier required two shifts, trekking, mountaineering, tourism business, hotels and restaurants (apart from banquets and gatherings) resumed from Thursday.
The government has also decided to allow the operation of long-distance vehicles, student enrollment, examinations, domestic and international flights and international sports training and preliminary sports August 17 onwards.
The government hasn’t still allowed operation of schools, colleges, tuition centers, training centers and barred entry from abroad except from designated border checkposts.
Similarly, cinema halls, party palaces, dance bars, salons, beauty parlors and spas, swimming pools, gyms, health clubs, group games, playgrounds, religious and social venues, libraries, museums, zoos, gatherings, seminars, trainings and conferences are still banned.
