Prohibitory period in Kathmandu valley extended till June 14

The District Administration Offices (DAOs) of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur have extended the prohibitory period by 10 days.

As per the order issued by Chief District Officers (CDOs) of the valley, the prohibitory order has been extended till June 14. The current prohibitory order was to end at midnight on June 3.

The prohibitory order has been issued in the valley to prevent the transmission of novel coronavirus including the new variants is on the increase on the recommendation of the Government of Nepal (Council of Ministers) and the District COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre (DCCMC) to break the chain of the transmission of coronavirus and the order issued by the government to prevent and control the pandemic as per Section 2 of the Communicable Disease Act, 2020 and Sub-section 3 of Section 6 of Local Administration Act, 2028.

As per the prohibitory order issued today, nobody will be allowed to go outside except for buying medicines, foods and for essential services. The distance between two persons should be at least two metres adopting health protocols, using masks, frequently washing hands and using hand sanitisers. 

Likewise, all kinds of meeting, convention, seminar, training, cinema hall, party palace, swimming pool, shopping mall, gym, team sports and recreation, library, museum, zoo among other entertainment sections have been restricted to operate. The wedding and other ceremonial functions will only be allowed to organised under the condition of following health protocols. The number of people gathering at such a function should not be more than seven persons and should only be organised at residence.

The educational institutes — school, college, tuition centre, training centre — will not be allowed to take examinations. The District Administration Office will facilitate the visa process through the diplomatic commission and other agencies for the students seeking to study abroad. Such diplomatic commissions can take required examinations or interviews adopting safety health protocols.

The construction companies will have to arrange the dwelling of the workers at the site. Likewise, the transportation companies will be allowed to transport only the essential items including medicines, health equipment, oxygen cylinders, hospital bed, fertilisers, seeds, foods adopting health protocols. 

The vehicles that have to be used in an emergency like transportation to the hospital, hearse and funeral procession can be operated after receiving a permit issued by the CDO.

Likewise, the order states that public and private vehicles will not be allowed to ply the road in the valley during the period. The vehicles and equipment that could be operated include, vehicles carrying daily essentials, the ambulance carrying no more than two persons including patient and caretaker, and vehicles belonging to health professionals and security personnel. The security personnel will have to wear the uniform and carry identity cards.

Public and private vehicle will not be allowed to ply the road. The vehicles transporting under essential services like ambulance; drinking water; electricity repair and maintenance; medical supplies; telecommunication; Internet repair; cargo, courier and postal service and waste management will be allowed to ply the road. a banner has to be put on the vehicle.

However, the vehicle transporting vegetables; fruits; food; milk and dairy products and related packing materials; chicken and other livestock feeds; veterinary-related items; fuel; cooking gas; toiletries including mask, soap, sanitiser; print and printing press-related items will be allowed to operate from 9:00 pm to 9:00 am during the prohibitory order.

Likewise, the vehicles transporting construction material will be allowed to operate from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am.

The vehicles having exit note issued by the customs office will be allowed to transport the items. The vehicles belonging to government offices, public institutions and insurance offices except for those providing essential services have been banned from operation during the prohibitory order.

People's representatives, officials and secretaries of constitutional bodies, chief justice, ministry secretaries, joint secretaries, department chief will be allowed to transport after producing the identity cards.

The vehicles belonging to government offices, public institutions, bank and financial institutions, and others providing internet services and telecommunication will be allowed after showing pass issued by the related ministry or department chief and the identity cards. 

The head office of a commercial bank and three of its branches will be allowed to open. The development bank will be allowed to open its head office and two branches. Other finance companies will be allowed to open the head office and one of the branches while the insurance committee and the insurance company will be allowed to operate the corporate office and securities board. All the BFIs will have to operate the offices using 20 per cent of the total employees and such data should be submitted to the central bank and the DAO.

The passengers taking the international flights will be allowed to transport to the airport on producing air ticket, passport and visa.

As per the prohibitory order, the shops selling vegetable, fruits, food, dairy, meat drinking water, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), grocery stores, department stores (grocery section) will be allowed to open till 9:00 am. The wholesale market of vegetable and fruit will not be allowed to carry out the retail transaction. The vehicles transporting such items will only be allowed from 9:00 pm to 9:00 am. Street vendors will not be allowed to sell vegetables.

The vehicle workshops selling spare parts will be allowed to operate adopting health protocols and maintaining a physical distance of two metres. If found violating health safety rules, the authorities may take action and close the workshops. Likewise, the workshop will be allowed to provide vehicle repairing services from 9:00 pm till 9:00 am.

The pharmacy and clinics can be operated at any time.

Likewise, the mediapersons and journalists will be allowed to go on reporting on producing identity card issued by the Information Department or producing identity cards of the offices which have submitted the letters bearing the names of the employees to the DAO.

The vehicles bearing blue number plates will be allowed to ply the road on producing identity card.