The prohibitory orders in place at the three districts of Kathmandu Valley since April 29 have been extended to June 21 but with some relaxations from Tuesday as the number of new cases continues to come down.

Citing a decrease in the number of coronavirus cases and deaths, the meeting of three chief district Officers of the Kathmandu Valley held Sunday have decided to allow shops to open for longer hours.

“We have decided to relax the prohibitory orders citing the decrease in coronavirus cases,” said Dhundi Prasad Niroula, Chief District Officer of Lalitpur. “Though people are not encouraged to walk unnecessarily, restrictions on movements on foot for essential work have been relaxed following proper health protocols.”

According to the new orders that come into effect from Tuesday, groceries and vegetable shops could remain open for two more hours till 11 am while bookstores and stationeries selling textbooks are also allowed to open till 11 am.

“We have also relaxed provisions to allow visa processing for students, diversity visas to the US and agricultural activities,” said Niroula. “Time limits have been set for public and private construction firms to operate.”

On Sunday 1,694 new cases were reported taking the tally to 608,472 of which 68,955 are still active. With the Ministry of Health reporting 46 more deaths from Covid-19 complications, the death toll has reached. 8,412.

The daily infections have been coming down since the high of 9,317 cases on May 11. On April 29 when the prohibitory orders were imposed in the Valley 4,831 infections had been reported across the country.