The District Administration Office of Kathmandu released a circular on Thursday addressing the citizens with a new set of Covid-19 standard procedures to be in place until further notice.

The circular lists out rules and regulations to be followed in public spaces underscoring the need for the public to avoid unwanted gatherings, meetings, processions and fairs. Any non-essentials outing must be curbed, reads the circular.

The new regulations are applicable to all from 12pm Thursday onwards, according to the circular published by Chief District Officer Govinda Prasad Rijal on the office’s website.

“The risk of Covid-19 infection is still present. People should not come out of their homes unnecessarily or participate in social gatherings such as jatras and melas,” reads the statement.

Although the regulations mentioned in the circular were to come into effect from 12 noon on Thursday, the implementation of the said regulations is still questionable with business hubs such as Indra Chowk, New Road, Khichapokhari, New Baneshwor, Koteshwor and other busy areas of the valley still crowded, mostly with people out for festive shopping.

Many have already called out the authority’s new circular since the valley is still witnessing political rallies and seminars, with some more planned for the next few days, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Aside from the request to limit public movement, the CDO’s statement also asks citizens to be alert for illegal activities such as robbery and thefts. The incidents of reported thefts and robberies surge in number around the festival season.

The circular also directs public transportation operators to have Covid-19 health safety protocols in place and to not exceed the seating capacity of the vehicle while ferrying passengers.

Party palaces, banquets and hotels have been directed to conduct Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) on its employees while catering to a large group of people.

The statement warns miscreants of penalisation if found involved in black marketeering and creating artificial shortages of goods during the festive season.