Prohibitory order in Kathmandu valley extended with relaxation on development works

 The District Administration Offices of the three districts in Kathmandu valley decided to further extend the prohibitory order for yet another week, though they have vowed to relax development works.

A virtual meeting of the Chief District Officers (CDOs) of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur – after consulting with the Home Ministry – decided to extend the ban on movement for the third time.

But, they said that the time frame for purchasing essential goods has also been extended till 11am from the previous 9am. The authorities have also allowed shops and vehicles related to development works from 2pm to 9pm. “National pride projects and industries related to essential services can also operate by setting up quarantine facilities,” a press note issued by the Kathmandu district CDO reads. 

The CDOs have, however, changed the modality of prohibitory order at the request of the private sector. The private sector had recommended partial lifting of the prohibitory order to make people lives easier as they have been facing hardship due to absolute closure of all kinds of activities in last 15 days.

“Due to sharp spike in number of daily cases in the valley with a huge concentration of active cases,” the CDOs decided to extend the prohibitory order for another week,” the press note reads.

Earlier, the CDOs of the three districts in the valley had issued prohibitory order on August 19 and extended on August 27 again. “Prohibitory orders in Kathmandu Valley have once again been extended by another week–until September 9 midnight,” CDO of Lalitpur Narayan Prasad Bhatta said, adding that they are trying to make the restrictions more effective. “A standard for online home delivery is being prepared and home delivery will be allowed with strict implementation of the health protocol,” he said, adding that anyone wishing to enter the Valley for emergency work must have the coronavirus RT PCR negative report. “

Likewise, the local administrations in the Valley have also instructed the ward committee offices to monitor whether the people whose swabs have been taken for the coronavirus test and those on the list of contact tracing are living in home isolation. ““Those violating home quarantine rules will be punished as per the Infectious Disease Act 1964.”