Some of the main stories from today's The Kathmandu Post.
Oli heads into surgery with no clear decision on who’s in charge in his absence
A day before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was admitted to the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital on Monday for a second kidney transplant, he issued a video message assuring the nation that he had put in place measures to ensure smooth functioning of all necessary governance-related activities in his absence.
But there is still a lack of clarity on who is the executive head of the country while Oli remains in the hospital for his surgery and post-operative recovery. The transplant is scheduled for Wednesday and doctors have said that Oli will require at least a week in hospital and two weeks to take up minor tasks.
Nepali economy starts to feel the pinch as coronavirus spreads
It is tourist season and the occupancy rate at Durbarmarg’s Hotel Annapurna is just 40-45 percent, down from 70 percent before the Covid-19 outbreak in China. Chinese tourists, who contributed around 20 percent to the hotel’s occupancy, have dwindled and visitors from other countries have also cut short their plans in the wake of the outbreak.
“With international travel badly affected by the coronavirus outbreak, occupancy rates have decreased drastically,” said Atma Khanal, a sales executive at the hotel.
Government stops issuing no-objection certificates for study in countries hard hit by Covid-19
A day after the Nepal government banned on arrival visa to travellers from countries hard hit by the coronavirus outbreak, the Ministry of Education has decided not to issue no-objection certificates for study in the six countries.
Starting Tuesday, the Abroad Study Permission Section of the Ministry has stopped providing students with the permit to study in China, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Iran and Singapore. Japan has been the second most preferred destination for Nepali students at least for the past five years. Going by the data of the section, China stands fourth as the most favoured foreign country for Nepali students to pursue their university education while South Korea occupies the fifth place.
Aviation authority urges government to implement stringent travel restrictions
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.
Hospitals urge ministry to arrange for face masks, gloves and other protective gear
With both importers and suppliers having stopped deliveries, major hospitals in Kathmandu Valley have sought the help of the Ministry of Health and Population for face masks, gloves, caps and other protective gear to be used in the treatment of critical cases.
Some hospitals have also started sewing masks, using plain cloth, to manage the crisis.
"I have requested Health Ministry officials, personally, to arrange for us face masks and other protective gear," Dr Prem Krishna Khadka, director at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, told the Post. "Someone has to provide face masks and other necessary gear for us to continue our jobs."
9.6°C Kathmandu
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