Govt extends lockdown for one more week; compensation and insurance of Rs 2.5 million for all involved in the treatment of coronavirus patients

Mon, Mar 30, 2020 7:12 AM on Economy, Latest,

The government has decided to continue the ongoing nationwide lockdown for a week until 12:00 midnight on April 7.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers held this evening took a decision to this effect to scale up the government fight against the COVID-19 as per the Infectious Disease Control Act, 1964.

Likewise, the government also decided to continue to present decision to postpone the passengers’ entry and exit through Nepal’s international borders till April 7 midnight. However, the supplies of goods will remain unhindered despite human mobility is banned owing to COVID-19.

Likewise, the government has formed Corona-19 Crisis Management Centre by forming a High-Level Action Team under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokharel, Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada said.

There would be Home Minister, Health Minister, Finance Minister, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies and Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration as well as chiefs of security bodies in the Centre.

The committee would be active to manage quarantines and isolation hospitals as well as ask for effectively implementing the government’s order and directives. The committee would work to maintain peace and security and to remain in discipline by bringing the infection under control.

Also to boost up the morale of doctors, health workers, ambulance drivers and all others directly involved in the treatment of coronavirus patients would be provided with the compensation and insurance of Rs 2.5 million till the end of the current fiscal year, Dr Khatiwada told the media.