Public gatherings, religious activities, roadside vending have been banned and restaurants asked to provide takeaway services only.

Earlier date of August 17 for resumption of flights, long-distance bus travel, and start of school admissions has been pushed back by at least 15 days.

Decisions include no flights and long-distance transport until August 31, tightening of entry into the Valley, and reducing the number of entry points from India to 10 from the present 20.

The board has cancelled all promotional activities in overseas markets, and spending on branding and marketing, officials said.

Officials from ministries are mulling over various measures, including how the country should welcome the arriving tourists when flights resume in about 10 days.

The survey showed that half of the companies’ business is financed by debt and as a result, they were unable to pay their employees as their cash flow dried up.

But Nepal Rastra Bank says as China’s demand for oil will create jobs in Gulf countries, Nepal may not see a big contraction on remittance earnings despite the pandemic.

A dedicated PCR test centre at the airport giving reports within hours is a must to avoid mandatory quarantine obligations, industry insiders say.

The country manager of International Finance Corporation on the institution’s strategy for Nepal, how it is assessing Nepal in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and how it wants to support the country in its recovery.

Experts say import-promoting policies, high production costs, change in consumer behaviour and lack of restrictions on import are to blame as the government fails to support farmers.

Nepal was close to getting rid of the ban but problems in the ruling party resulted in sudden prorogation of Parliament, putting bills to split up the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal in limbo.

But experts say that a shortage of chemical fertilisers may play spoilsport.

Entrepreneurs say much needs to be done including provision to conduct PCR tests of visitors at airport to build confidence in them.

Private power producers incurring losses amounting to more than Rs 382 million annually.

Airlines and tourism entrepreneurs welcome the decision to lift flight restrictions that have been in place for over four months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.