The Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari has decided to deploy over 2,200 police personnel in the Valley to enforce the prohibitory order, which will start from 6am on Thursday.

The police will man the entry points to the Valley and patrol the roads and markets to ensure that people don’t come out onto the street unless they have essential work during the 15-day restriction period.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police Sushil Singh Rathour, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari, they have made special security arrangements for an effective implementation of the prohibitory order.

“Over 1,000 police would be mobilised in Kathmandu while 636 and 500 personnel would be mobilised in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, respectively,” Rathour told the Post. “They will be stationed at the Valley’s entry points, main roads, markets, and will also patrol the cities.”

Rathour added anyone found defying prohibition orders would be warned and informed about the risks associated with the coronavirus. However, the officers could take action against such offenders as per the Infectious Disease Control Act that prescribes jail term for up to a month and/or fine of Rs100.

According to the prohibitory orders, which will take effect from Thursday morning, the movement of public and private vehicles will be prohibited for 15 days. Similarly, assemblies, seminars and training will not be allowed during the period. Cinemas, party venues, swimming pools, shopping malls, places of entertainment, salons, beauty parlours, gyms, sports venues, libraries, museums and zoos have also been ordered to remain shut.

Weddings and other life rituals will be allowed with no more than 15 persons with strict health protocols in place and with prior permission from the district administration office.

According to Rathour, only essential services like ambulances and vehicles carrying essentials like water, food, vegetables, fruits, and milk will be allowed on the road.

Authorities have also decided that all shops except for pharmacies and groceries will remain shut for 15 days. Shops selling foodstuffs can open only till 10am and from 5 to 7 pm. Although the government order issued on Monday stated that the grocery sections of department stores could open from 10am to 5pm, the chief district officer of Kathmandu on Tuesday “amended” the order and said the grocery sections of department stores will be open only in the mornings and the evenings just like other groceries.

The employees of government offices, banks and other financial institutions and essential services staffers can move about with their identity cards and journalists can move about with the cards issued by the Department of Information.