Kathmandu Valley authorities have lifted the restrictions imposed on the movement of all types of vehicles after 8pm starting Wednesday while extending the ongoing prohibitory orders until September 1.

The decision follows a meeting of chief district officers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur on Tuesday.

“We have extended the ongoing prohibitory orders by a week starting Wednesday [August 25] until September 1,” said Dhundi Prasad Niraula, chief district officer of Lalitpur. “Public and private vehicles now are allowed to ply after 8pm starting Wednesday.”

Valley authorities had imposed restrictions on the public and private vehicles after 8pm starting August 12 to discourage people from partying and eating out, a trend that they said had increased even though restaurants were allowed only to provide takeaway services.

The decision had received flak, with many saying the risk of virus spread was more during the daytime than at night.

“After discussion with all district chief officers and traffic officials, we have withdrawn the previous order of banning night time public vehicle movement. There were complaints as well from the general public,” said Dhundi Prasad Niraula, chief district officer of Lalitpur. “Also, we have observed less crowds in the evening.”

However, orders made online and through restaurants and fast food, including takeaway or home delivery, have been restricted after 8pm.

According to Niraula, gatherings of over 25 people are still prohibited.

After the second wave hit the country in April, Kathmandu Valley was put under a strict lockdown for two months from April 29. When prohibitory orders were announced, the country had 4,841 new cases and 35 Covid-19-related fatalities.

After a gradual decline in cases, authorities relaxed the curbs.

In the past few days, Covid-19 cases all across the country have started to drop steadily. This, however, has been attributed to decreased number of testing.

Nepal on Monday reported 1,548 new coronavirus cases taking the nationwide infection tally to 748,981. Similarly, 253 people tested positive in a total of 2,622 antigen tests, according to the Health Ministry.