These are some of the best stories from The Kathmandu Post (March 24, 2020). Gulf countries, Malaysia and South Korea, which host a large number of Nepalis, have reported a large number of cases of Covid-19. Post file photo
Here are some of the big stories from today's The Kathmandu Post.
Nepal goes under lockdown for a week starting 6am Tuesday
The entire country will go on a lockdown for a week starting 6am on Tuesday, amid concerns over the spread of Covid-19.
A meeting of the high-level committee for the prevention and control of Covid-19, led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, took the decision on Monday evening, hours after a second coronavirus case was confirmed.
Prabhat Katuwal, a personal aide to Pokhrel, confirmed that there will be a nationwide lockdown from Tuesday morning.
For Nepali migrant workers abroad, no hearth and no home
As Covid-19 began to spread and occupancy fell in the hotel that he was working at, Laxman Lamichhane decided that he would come home. Lamichhane was planning to fly back from the United Arab Emirates on April 10, the day his vacation days began, but when the Nepal government’s increasing restrictions on travel, he was forced to change his plans.
Last Wednesday, the Nepal government-imposed travel restrictions as a measure to prevent the coronavirus from entering the country. As per the government ban, all passengers, including Nepalis, from the European Union, the United Kingdom, West Asia, Gulf countries and countries like Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, were restricted from March 20 until April 15. The travel restriction was also applicable for all passengers transiting in these locations.
Following Cabinet’s decision to close borders, hundreds of Nepalis faced a long day on Monday at the borders
On Monday, hundreds of Nepalis, returning home from various parts of India, waited on the other side of the Mechi bridge in Kakadbhitta to be allowed to enter Nepal. They protested against the government’s decision to seal all borders effective Monday onwards.
However, by late evening, Province 1 Chief Minister Sherdhan Rai directed the local government and administration to allow the Nepalis to enter Nepal. Rai said that he has informed the federal government about the entry of Nepali passengers from India from the border point.
Government has banned gatherings of over 25 people, but its own agencies and House panel are ignoring the fiat
The federal parliament has been postponed indefinitely and most of the government offices have been closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Similarly, the government has barred gatherings of more than 25 people.
However, state agencies themselves are ignoring the order.
The Parliamentary Hearing Committee on Monday held its meeting twice to approve the recommendation of Mahendra Pandey as the ambassador to China. The hearing committee, through its first meeting, finalised the modality to question Pandey and approved his recommendation from the second meeting.
14.24°C Kathmandu
