The government has decided to restrict domestic and international passenger flights as well as long-distance transport services until August 31, citing a steady rise in the number of coronavirus cases in the country and fear of community transmission.

Monday’s Cabinet meeting took the decision to this effect.

Earlier on July 20, the government had decided to allow international and domestic airlines to operate from August 17.

The government then a day later on July 21 decided to lift the four-month-long lockdown. Since then, Covid-19 cases have been rising at an alarming rate, with hospitals overwhelmed and authorities scrambling to expand and expedite testing and tracing.

As of Monday, 23,310 persons have been infected with coronavirus across the country of which 1,178 have been infected in Kathmandu Valley. On Monday 338 were found to be infected, 44 of them in the Valley. The death toll stands at 79, with eight in Kathmandu Valley, according to the Health Ministry.

On March 20, the government had banned all passengers, including Nepalis, from entering the country from the European Union territories, including the United Kingdom, West Asia, Gulf countries and countries like Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

Four days later, it had imposed a nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.