The government has issued a series of directives, including restricting the movement of people and vehicles from 10 pm to 5 am, as part of its strategy to ease the lockdown in different stages.

The directives come four days after the government decided to gradually ease the lockdown from June 15, and following the issuance of Lockdown Security Standards-2020 on Friday.

The Home Ministry has directed the security agencies and the district administration offices in all 77 districts to strictly implement the directive. The ministry has also instructed the concerned agencies to fully implement the 'Health Protocol" issued by the Health Ministry while enforcing the rule.

The Home Ministry was tasked with preparing a security modality to manage the lockdown after a Cabinet meeting on June 10 decided to ease the lockdown.

As per the new modality of lockdown relaxation, private vehicles can operate under the odd-even number system in 73 districts, except Sarlahi, Rautahat, Kapilvastu and Dailekh districts, from five in the morning till ten at night.

Likewise, security agencies have also been directed to strictly conduct security checks as people have been skirting the security checks and transporting people from one district to the other during nights.

The ministry has also directed the authorities to take action against those who violate the rule under the existing laws, including Essential Services Operation Act, 1957, Infectious Disease Act, 1964, National Criminal Procedure (Code) Act, 2017, and Local Administration Act, 1971.

The government has also barred participation of over 15 people in religious and cultural gatherings, including marriages and funerals.

The security agencies and local administrations have also been directed to strictly monitor if the precautionary measures against Covid-19, including physical distancing rule of at least 2 metres between two persons, are being followed in workplace and public places.

The directive has also limited the number of people in goods carrying vehicles to only two. 

For factories and industries, the government has limited the number of workers to only 10 at a given time.