The government has decided to halt the operation of international and domestic flights till May 15 as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).
A meeting of the High-Level Coordination Committee for the Prevention and Control of Covid-19 – led by committee chair deputy prime minister and defence minister Ishwar Pokharel – held at Singhadurbar this morning – decided to extend suspension of the international and domestic fights until May 15.
Earlier on April 7, the high-level committee had decided to suspend all international flights to Nepal until April 30. Before that, the government on March 20 had decided to suspend all international flights from March 22 to March 31. The suspension was later extended until April 15.
The meeting – that took place at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers – has also proposed to extend the lock down by a week, according to a member at the committee.
However, secretary at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Narayan Prasad Bidari claimed that the meeting did not make any decision regarding the extension or easing of the lock down. “The meeting, however, evaluated all the efforts made to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Nepal,” he said adding that the cabinet meeting – tomorrow – will take the necessary decisions on extension of lock down.
The government had extended lock down – for the third time on April 14 – that will end on Monday, if not extended.
Since lock down in India has been declared until May 3, there is high chance that Nepal too will extend lock down at least for a week, also due to 1,800-km-long porous border between the two countries, which could be a gateway for the coronavirus to enter to Nepal.
Nepal, as of today, has reported 49 Covid-19 cases, though 11 patients have been discharged after recovering.
A meeting of the High-Level Coordination Committee for the Prevention and Control of Covid-19 – led by committee chair deputy prime minister and defence minister Ishwar Pokharel – held at Singhadurbar this morning – decided to extend suspension of the international and domestic fights until May 15.
Earlier on April 7, the high-level committee had decided to suspend all international flights to Nepal until April 30. Before that, the government on March 20 had decided to suspend all international flights from March 22 to March 31. The suspension was later extended until April 15.
The meeting – that took place at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers – has also proposed to extend the lock down by a week, according to a member at the committee.
However, secretary at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Narayan Prasad Bidari claimed that the meeting did not make any decision regarding the extension or easing of the lock down. “The meeting, however, evaluated all the efforts made to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Nepal,” he said adding that the cabinet meeting – tomorrow – will take the necessary decisions on extension of lock down.
The government had extended lock down – for the third time on April 14 – that will end on Monday, if not extended.
Since lock down in India has been declared until May 3, there is high chance that Nepal too will extend lock down at least for a week, also due to 1,800-km-long porous border between the two countries, which could be a gateway for the coronavirus to enter to Nepal.
Nepal, as of today, has reported 49 Covid-19 cases, though 11 patients have been discharged after recovering.
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