Government mulls smart lockdown

As Nepal witnessed a sharp spike in the number of Covid-19 cases in recent days, the government is mulling to enforce a smart lockdown, apart from international border closure and suspension all international flights.

A Covid-19 Crisis Management Committee (CCMC) meeting held today discussed on possibilities of closing the international border and suspending international flights to and from Nepal in case of sharp rise in the number of Covid-19 cases.

"As the number of Covid-19 cases has continued to increase, the government may have to close the international border and suspend international flights as a precaution to contain further spread of the Covid-19 cases," confirmed a senior government official. "Though, the government is yet closely watching the situation and has not decided yet, the CCMC meeting decided to tighten cross-border movement and keep Covid-19 affected people in quarantines and holding centers,| he said, adding that the meeting today decided to increase the capacity of holding centers. "The meeting also decided to immediately complete the under-construction holding centers and arrange necessary budget."

Due to the severity of the Covid-19 cases, all the seven provinces are building holding centers that can accommodate at least 1,000 people at a time.

The next meeting will decide on smart lockdown, if the Covid-19 cases continue to rise. According to the Health Ministry, a total of 24 new cases of Omicron variant of Covid-19 has been confirmed today. Likewise, the number of new cases of Covid-19 is also increasing sharply as Friday alone recorded some 968 new cases, almost double from 540 a day earlier. Wednesday witnessed only 435 new cases of Covid-19.

The CCMC meeting, chaired by the prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, today also discussed closing cinema halls and schools, and prohibiting mass gatherings, though, the government is expanding the scope of Covid-19 tests across the country.

Addressing the Directorate Committee of CCMC meeting today, the prime minister also directed all government agencies to take necessary precautions to help contain further spread of Covid-19 cases.