With a rapid increase in coronavirus cases in Kathmandu, all three district administration offices in the Valley have decided to suspend their non-essential services until further notice.

While the Lalitpur and Bhaktapur district administration offices have also decided to shut all government offices under their jurisdiction from Sunday, the Kathmandu district office has authorised the head of the government office concerned to decide whether to shut or to remain open.

“We have authorised the heads of government offices concerned to decide whether to halt their services or not given the flow of service seekers and the level of infection,” said Kathmandu Chief District Officer Janak Raj Dahal. “We decided to shut the administration office after four of our staffers tested positive on Wednesday.”

According to Dahal, most government offices in Kathmandu, including the department of transport’s offices in Thulo Bharyang, land revenue offices in Manamaiju and Kalanki have decided to suspend their services after staffers were infected with the virus.

“We have decided to shut all non-essential government services throughout the district from Sunday, until further notice,” said Lalitpur’s Assistant Chief District Officer Lalit Basnet. “From Sunday, we will also begin monitoring public spaces to check if people are following health protocols or not.”

The Lalitpur District Administration Office has formed seven different teams to monitor public spaces and punish those who violate the health protocols.

“The monitoring teams will have the authority to seal shops or offices, seize their merchandise and fine people from Rs 5,000 to three lakhs,” Basnet told the Post.

Kathmandu also started monitoring public spaces by deploying 10 teams from last Thursday while Bhaktapur is preparing to deploy five such teams.