These are some of the best stories from The Kathmandu Post (March 22, 2020). Gunje BK, a rickshaw driver, is worried about his livelihood. Srizu Bajracharya/TKP
Here are some of the big stories from today's The Kathmandu Post.
Experts suggest effective monitoring, not completely sealing border with India
With the Covid-19 taking a toll on various countries, including India, concerns are growing in Nepal over how to deal with the unrestricted movement of people through the roughly 1,800-km-long porous border between the two countries.
Hundreds of Nepalis are crossing the border every day from India in the wake of the rising number of confirmed cases in India, making many wary of possible entry of the virus. So far, no restrictions have been put in place for the movement of Nepalis and Indians through the border points.
Amid Covid-19 fears, it is the people in lower economic strata who are most vulnerable
At Tripureshwor, on the big screen on the front of the United World Trade Centre building, slides of how to protect oneself from the novel coronavirus pop up every minute. Around town, people have their faces covered with blue, black, yellow and white masks. On the radio, television and phones, public service announcements are being made, reminding people to regularly wash their hands with soap, use sanitisers, avoid crowds and maintain distance.
Gunje BK, a rickshaw driver, however, is at his wit’s end.
Concerns over virus prompt doctors to apply for leave
On Saturday, over 20 staffers, including nurses and doctors, serving at Sumeru Hospital, Lalitpur, applied for leave. This startled the hospital management.
"The number of staffers applying for leave has been rising by the day,” Hemraj Dahal, the hospital’s chairman, told the Post. “It’s not difficult to guess the reason. Health workers fear that the coronavirus could spread.”
In Butwal, juvenile delinquents are compelled to stay at a crowded correctional facility without proper means
The correctional facility for juvenile delinquents in Butwal has two dingy rooms and 26 beds. But that is not sufficient for all of the 89 delinquents staying in the facility. As many as four juveniles sleep crammed in a single bed while many others sleep on the floor.
As a result of the overcrowding, many suffer from skin-related diseases.
“Last year, it was scabies,” Pitambar Neupane, the office helper, said. “Many kids caught it and are still recovering.” According to Neupane, the facility has the capacity to host 60 children, but it currently houses 89.
Province 2 tightens border with India as Covid-19 precautions
As cases of coronavirus infections are rising steadily in neighbouring India, Nepal’s Province 2 has imposed a ‘near-total lockdown’ at its border points following a meeting on Saturday with the Indian security force. All eight districts of the province share borders with India—where the Covid-19 pandemic has infected over 280 people and killed four so far, and where a significant number of the districts’ population work. It is estimated that, on average, about 2,000 people travel across the border points every day.
“We have restricted movement across the border and have increased the number of security personnel at border points,” DIG Raju Aryal of Province 2 APF told the Post. According to Aryal, the lockdown came into effect since Saturday afternoon, while help desks and checkpoints have been set up in 75 spots across the border areas.
9.89°C Kathmandu
