Nepalis stranded in Gauriphanta border crossing allowed to enter Nepal

The returnees will be kept in quarantine facilities for 14 days in their respective districts, say authorities. Nepalis stranded in Gauriphanta border crossing allowed to enter Nepal

Arjun Shah/TKP

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Mohan Budhaair

Published at : March 24, 2020

Updated at : March 24, 2020 17:50

Dhangadi

The local administration has decided to allow at least 1,000 Nepalis, who were stranded in Gauriphanta border crossing in Kailali since Monday evening, to enter the country.

"They will be kept in a quarantine facility in their respective villages and municipalities," said Yagya Raj Bohara, the Chief District Officer of Kailali. "They are undergoing health examinations and will be taken to their respective districts.”

Buses have been managed to facilitate the returnees travel to the home districts, informed Bohara. "The local units under the provincial government have taken the responsibility to keep them in quarantine facilities."

The returnees had protested against the authorities on Tuesday morning for the latter’s insensitivity to their distress.

As Nepal has closed its borders with India and China for a week from Monday and has gone on a weeklong lockdown from Tuesday morning at 6am, the returnees were not allowed to cross the border.

According to Bohara, the local administration decided to allow their entry in the country after coordinating with the provincial government and the Home Ministry.

The federal government has decided to allow the entry of all Nepalis stranded in border crossings across the country until Tuesday midnight. A meeting of a high-level committee formed for the prevention and control of novel coronavirus took the decision on Tuesday.

“Only Nepali nationals will be allowed to enter the country that too only after conducting their health examination,” said Yubaraj Khatiwada, Minister for Communication and Information Technology. “This directive is applicable only for Tuesday. No one will be allowed to enter the country Wednesday onwards.”

The government has decided to keep those who were allowed to enter the country on Tuesday in quarantine facilities for 14 days. The committee has directed the provincial and local units to manage such facilities in their respective administrations.

Arjun Shah contributed to the reporting.

The story has been updated.

Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus outbreak

UPDATED as of September 22, 2020

What is Covid-19?
Covid-19, short for coronavirus disease, is an illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, short for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

How contagious is Covid-19?
Covid-19 can spread easily from person to person, especially in enclosed spaces. The virus can travel through the air in respiratory droplets produced when a sick person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. As the virus can also survive on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours, any contact with such surfaces can also spread the virus. Symptoms take between two to 14 days to appear, during which time the carrier is believed to be contagious.

Where did the virus come from?
The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that is responsible for everything from the common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). After an initial outbreak in Wuhan that spread across Hubei province, eventually infecting over 80,000 and killing more than 3,000, new infection rates in mainland China have dropped. However, the disease has since spread across the world at an alarming rate.

What is the current status of Covid-19?

The World Health Organisation has called the ongoing outbreak a “pandemic” and urged countries across the world to take precautionary measures. Covid-19 has spread to 213 countries and territories around the world and infected more than 31,405,983 people with 967,505 deaths and 22,990,260 recoveries. In South Asia, India has reported the highest number of infections at 5,557,573 with 88,943 deaths. While Pakistan has reported 306,304 confirmed cases with 6,420 deaths. Nepal has so far reported 65,276 cases with 427 deaths.

How dangerous is the disease?

The mortality rate for Covid-19 is estimated to be 3.6 percent, but new studies have put the rate slightly higher at 5.7 percent. Although Covid-19 is not too dangerous to young healthy people, older individuals and those with immune-compromised systems are at greater risk of death. People with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, or those who’ve recently undergone serious medical procedures, are also at risk.

How do I keep myself safe?
The WHO advises that the most important thing you can do is wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol content. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands. Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces like your computers and phones. Avoid large crowds of people. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist for longer than a few days.

Is it time to panic?

No. The government has imposed a lockdown to limit the spread of the virus. There is no need to begin stockpiling food, cooking gas or hand sanitizers. However, it is always prudent to take sensible precautions like the ones identified above.