Nepal’s civil aviation body on Tuesday recommended to the government to implement stringent travel restrictions in an effort to contain the coronavirus outbreak stating that it could not ask airlines to suspend their flights.
“Based on current practices worldwide, we have recommended to the government to issue a travel advisory or travel restriction in countries which have been badly affected,” said Rajan Pokhrel, director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.
“Our recommendation is based on the guideline of the World Health Organisation which says that the epidemic cannot be controlled by restricting flights, but the government needs to take extra precautionary measures with regard to health, particularly at airports.”
The aviation regulator said that flight restrictions by any state undermine the approach to respond to this kind of outbreak to any particular country.
Pokhrel said that in case of an emergency, the state can impose flight restrictions.
The authority, which was told by the Tourism Ministry to prepare a report whether or not Nepal needs to restrict flights to and from virus-hit countries, submitted its report on Tuesday. The report has been forwarded to the Foreign Ministry, said a senior official at the ministry. “The Foreign Ministry will make a decision based on the recommendation.”
Among various restrictions, many countries have stopped issuing visa on-arrival and imposed blanket travel restrictions, said an official at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. “But airlines themselves can suspend flights.”
On Monday, the Supreme Court issued an interim order to the government asking it to stop flights to and from countries affected by the coronavirus outbreak for a few days or a month, if needed, in order to protect public health. The court ruling came in response to a public interest litigation filed by advocate Purna Rajbansi.
According to the advisory, Nepali nationals are advised to refrain from non-essential travel to countries affected by Covid-19 or in high risk of the virus including China, South Korea, Iran, Japan and Italy.
These five countries have been worst hit by the virus, and the people transiting via these countries will have to submit a health certificate stating that they are not infected by Covid-19 at immigration points in Nepal.
For the time being, nationals of third countries entering Nepal overland through India shall be issued visas after a health check-up if they enter the country only from Kakarbhitta, Jogbani, Raxaul, Sunauli, Nepalgunj and Gaddachauki.
Nepali nationals directly coming from countries affected by the virus and at high risk of Covid-19 and from third countries transiting via those countries will have to undergo mandatory home quarantine for 14 days. The private and non-government sectors are requested to postpone their international programmes scheduled to be held in Nepal.
The Nepal government has decided to stop issuing visas on-arrival to foreign nationals from five countries that have been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, according to the Department of Immigration.
A Cabinet meeting on Sunday decided that visas for citizens of China, 'including its Special Administrative Regions', Japan, South Korea, Italy and Iran will not be issued on arrival, effective from March 10, according to an official at the department.
Travel advisory
Nepali nationals directly coming from countries affected by the virus and at high risk of Covid-19 and from third countries transiting via those countries will have to undergo mandatory home quarantine for 14 days.
Nepali nationals are advised to refrain from non-essential travel to countries affected by Covid-19 or in high risk of the virus including China, South Korea, Iran, Japan and Italy.
The people transiting via these countries will have to submit a health certificate stating that they are not infected by Covid-19 at immigration points in Nepal.
For the time being, nationals of third countries entering Nepal overland through India shall be issued visas after a health check-up if they enter the country only from Kakarbhitta, Jogbani, Raxaul, Sunauli, Nepalgunj and Gaddachauki.
The private and non-government sectors are requested to postpone their international programmes scheduled to be held in Nepal.
Nepal government has decided to stop issuing visas on-arrival to foreign nationals from five countries—China, South Korea, Iran, Japan and Italy— that have been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak.
Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus outbreak
UPDATED as of September 22, 2020
What is Covid-19? Covid-19, short for coronavirus disease, is an illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, short for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
How contagious is Covid-19? Covid-19 can spread easily from person to person, especially in enclosed spaces. The virus can travel through the air in respiratory droplets produced when a sick person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. As the virus can also survive on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours, any contact with such surfaces can also spread the virus. Symptoms take between two to 14 days to appear, during which time the carrier is believed to be contagious.
Where did the virus come from? The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that is responsible for everything from the common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). After an initial outbreak in Wuhan that spread across Hubei province, eventually infecting over 80,000 and killing more than 3,000, new infection rates in mainland China have dropped. However, the disease has since spread across the world at an alarming rate.
What is the current status of Covid-19?
The World Health Organisation has called the ongoing outbreak a “pandemic” and urged countries across the world to take precautionary measures. Covid-19 has spread to 213 countries and territoriesaround the world and infected more than 31,405,983 people with 967,505 deaths and 22,990,260 recoveries. In South Asia, India has reported the highest number of infections at 5,557,573 with 88,943 deaths. While Pakistan has reported 306,304 confirmed cases with 6,420 deaths. Nepal has so far reported 65,276 cases with 427 deaths.
How dangerous is the disease?
The mortality rate for Covid-19 is estimated to be 3.6 percent, but new studies have put the rate slightly higher at 5.7 percent. Although Covid-19 is not too dangerous to young healthy people, older individuals and those with immune-compromised systems are at greater risk of death. People with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, or those who’ve recently undergone serious medical procedures, are also at risk.
How do I keep myself safe? The WHO advises that the most important thing you can do is wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol content. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands. Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces like your computers and phones. Avoid large crowds of people. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist for longer than a few days.
Is it time to panic?
No. The government has imposed a lockdown to limit the spread of the virus. There is no need to begin stockpiling food, cooking gas or hand sanitizers. However, it is always prudent to take sensible precautions like the ones identified above.
Sangam Prasain is Business Editor at The Kathmandu Post, covering tourism, agriculture, mountaineering, aviation, infrastructure and other economic affairs. He joined The Kathmandu Post in October 2009.
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