Kathmandu, March 28 : The high-level committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ishwor Pokhrel on infection of COVID-19, and its control and prevention has reviewed the works done so far to control this pandemic in the country.
The meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office, Singha Durbar, on Friday (March 27) discussed various issues relating to the control of COVID-19 and the effects it caused to people, said government Spokesperson Dr Yubraj Khatiwada, adding that the meeting decided to continue production, supply and distribution of the daily essential goods. Movement of people for this cause would not be controlled, he added.
“Obstruction to customers on purchase, to supply vehicles on customs will be cleared,” he added. The government has also suggested the people not to gather at a place but maintain distance and purchase goods considering health safety. However, the operation of big industrials and business have been stalled in a bid to contain the coronavirus, the committee concluded. The committee has instructed the concerned authority to rescue the foreign tourists stranded in various places across the country and fly them to Kathmandu.
The Nepal Tourism Board has been instructed to keep them under its observation and make necessary efforts to send them to their respective countries. Direction is also made for the facilitation to the labourers stranded due to shutdown of the factories after lockdown for safe location. Committee also instructed the local administration and security personnel to take the stranded Nepalis to their respective districts.
A decision has been made to facilitate the exchange of the foreign currency if the Nepalis parents would want to send money to their children abroad, especially those currently studying there and in dire strait or if they want to come back home. The Committee decided to request the private sector and entrepreneurs to clear customs soon as cargos have arrived our border points from Kolkata. As the country’s border points with China and India are closed for a week since last Monday to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19 and there’s none working in the border point, the committee decided to urge the private sector to clear consignment at the earliest.
The meeting has recommended the request sent by the Gandaki State to the government to develop Pokhara-based Western Area Hospital as a dedicated hospital to treat COVID-19 patients. The Health Department would first authenticate the materials locally produced to prevent the COVID-19 and then it would be brought to use, said Minister Khatiwada. RS
