These are some of the best stories from The Kathmandu Post (March 23, 2020). An empty street is seen in front of Petronas Twin Towers after Malaysia's government announced the movement control order due to the spread of the Covid-19 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on March 19, 2020. Reuters
Here are some of the big stories from today's The Kathmandu Post.
Nepali workers forced to work even under lockdown in Malaysia
As the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 spiked in Malaysia, S had been wanting to stay safe indoors.
With the lockdown announced from Wednesday, the Nepali migrant worker, along with his compatriots, was relieved that he could finally remain indoors safe from infection.
“As we couldn’t go out, all of us were in self-quarantine since last Wednesday,” S told the Post from Penang, Malaysia. “We thought we would be safe now.”
Government to close down border with India and China for a week
The government has decided to close down its borders with both India and China for a week, effective from 10am Monday, to deal with the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.
A Cabinet meeting on Sunday took a decision to this effect.
Small and medium enterprises feel the pinch as the economy flounders
Kedar Rajbahak shut down his swirl candy factory from Sunday after the government ordered that all non-essential services be closed in order to maintain social distancing, and prevent any possible spread of Covid-19.
His company, Bishnu Maya Confectionery, produces handmade chocolate. Closing down means loss of revenue, and he does not know how he is going to pay back his loans, the rent for the premises, and the salaries of his 30 workers.
Government requests India and China for protective gear and medical equipment
The Ministry of Health and Population through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sought a large number of protective gear and medical equipment with India and China to combat Covid-19.
According to a letter seen by the Post from the Ministry of Health and Population to the Indian government, Nepal has requested for 50,000 Level 1 personal protective equipment (PPE) that offer the highest measure of respiratory, skin and eye protection; 100,000 Level 2 PPE with the highest level of respiratory protection but lesser skin and eye protection; and 10,000 pieces of Level 3 PPE which provide lesser degree respiratory, skin and eye protection.
Test, test, test, says WHO but Nepal has neither the means nor the matter
Sandeep Rai arrived at the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku on Sunday with his colleagues Anuj Adhikari and Habin Bhandari. All three work for Huawei Technologies Nepal, where their supervisor had asked them to take a Covid-19 test as one of their colleagues had been down with fever, sore throat and body aches for the past several days.
Doctors at the hospital measured their temperatures, which was normal, and then sent them home, saying they did not require tests.
“We did not go to the hospital to get temperatures taken. Our office already does that every day," said 32-year-old Rai. “They only asked us to maintain social distance and contact them if something unusual happened. We are worried not only about our health but also the health of our family members.”
9.6°C Kathmandu
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