KATHMANDU, April 27: Amid the growing risk of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the local administrations of the three districts in the Kathmandu Valley decided to enforce week-long prohibitory orders effective from Thursday (April 29).
The orders will continue until May 5, according to separate notices published by the district administration offices (DAOs) of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts earlier on Monday evening. The new orders will come into force from 6AM on April 29 and end on May 5 midnight.
According to the orders issued separately by three DAOs, conferences, seminars, training centers, cinema halls, party palaces, swimming pools, shopping malls, entertainment sites, saloons, beauty parlors, gym and fitness centers, sports activities, libraries and zoos are not allowed to be operated.
Similarly, all the private vehicles and public transportation services except for those designated as emergency ones are also restricted. Ambulances and those vehicles carrying emergency goods, health professionals and medical supplies, however, will be allowed to operate during this period.
All other services except for the emergency ones are prohibited, according to the orders. Services allowed during the period include operation and transportation of drinking water, food stuff, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, banks and financial institutions, internet, COVID-19 quarantine and isolation facilities and waste management.
Similarly, all the shops and business activities will remain shut down except for those selling food items, medicines and medical supplies. Only the grocery section of the departmental stores are allowed to open. They will remain open until 10 AM in the morning and between 5 PM to 7 PM in the evening.
The district administrations asked those allowed to operate their services to strictly abide by the health protocol issued by the health ministry.
Restricted services and activities
Cinema halls
Party palaces
Swimming pools
Shopping malls
Zoos
Group sports
Librarities
Museums
Private vehicles
Public transportation
Saloons
Beauty parlors
Gymnasium
Allowed services and activities
Vehicles carrying emergency goods
Ambulances
Vehicles used by security personnel and medics
Services such as drinking water, food stuff, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, banks and financial institutions, telecommunications, internet, COVID-19 quarantine and isolation and waste management
Government offices
Development activities
Persons flying abroad
Hearses
Grocery shops
Grocery sections of departmental stores
Pharmacies
Wedding ceremonies (maximum of 15 people after getting persmission from respective district adminstration office)
Media persons (should produce an identity card issued by the Department of Information)