Government relaxes prohibitory orders

The Kathmandu Valley district administrations decided to extend the prohibitory orders in the Valley by a week but with some relaxation.

Though, the prohibitory orders will remain in force until  June 28, the private vehicles will be allowed to operate on an odd-even basis, confirmed chief district officer of Kathmandu district, Kali Prasad Parajuli. 

Likewise, taxi services will also operate based on the odd-even system, he said adding that other public transportation services, however, are yet to resume. 

A meeting of the Valley’s three chief district officers today announced the decision to relax the orders starting Tuesday citing the declining cases of Covid-19 infections in the Valley.

The prohibitory orders, first introduced for a week starting April 29, have been extended several times and are due to expire on Monday midnight.

The businesses are also allowed to operate on alternate days, chief district officer of Lalitpur district Dhundi Prasad Niraula, said, adding that the grocery and department stores will be allowed to open till 11 am every day, various other shops will remain open from 11 am to 4 pm and 11 am to 6 pm.

According to chief district officer of Bhaktapur district Prem Prasad Bhattrai, the shops are allowed to open on particular day and particular time. 

"Jewellery shops, electronics stores and automobile shops will be allowed to open on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, whereas shopping malls, clothing stores, gift shops, sports apparel stores and cosmetic shops will be allowed to operate on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays," according to the notice published by the District Administration Office, Kathmandu.

Likewise, restaurants are allowed to run takeaway services till 7 pm, and shops selling construction materials, bathroom fixtures and accessories and furniture stores are allowed to open from 11 am till 6 pm. "Vehicles carrying construction materials are also allowed to operate at night," the notice reads.

The daily Covid-19 cases have been coming down after peaking on May 11 when the country confirmed a record 9,317 new infections. The daily new infection numbers has come down to 1,421 with 51 fatalities, today.