After 80 days of nationwide lockdown, the government has come up with a plan to ease the ongoing lockdown. The government has made public a 21-day plan of ‘loose down’ which was decided at cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.
According to the decision, private vehicles will be allowed to operate in the Kathmandu Valley and other districts from Friday but public transportations will remain shut. Domestic and international air services will not allowed to operate anytime soon. However, evacuation flights will continue to bring stranded Nepalis back home.
Similarly, small shops and department stores will be allowed to open but shopping malls will not be allowed.
The government has decided to operate all government, private and financial institutions offices in two shifts to reduce the risk of corona virus. All of the offices will have to run in two shifts from 8 am to 1 pm and from 1 pm to 6 pm.
Restaurants will be open for take away services, while all hotels except specified for quarantine will remain closed.
Private vehicles are being allowed to operate, however one car can only accommodate up to 3 passengers (including the driver). Meanwhile, motorcyclists may not carry pillion riders. Private vehicles will be allowed to ply only within their own respective districts with the exception of Kathmandu Valley (Valley motorists can travel between Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur).
What will remain closed?
- Educational Institutions (including schools, colleges, tuition centers and training centers)
- International and domestic flights except those evacuating Nepalis abroad.
- Transit through international border checkpoints
- All kinds of meetings, trainings and seminars.
- All kinds of demonstrations, gatherings and conferences.
- Cinema halls, party palaces, dance clubs and other entertainment venues.
- Public library, museum, zoo.
- Spa, salon and beauty parlor.
- Health clubs including swimming pool and gym, Shopping Malls
- Group games and playground presentations
- All kinds of religious and social sites
- Passenger public transport including tourist vehicles.
