Lockdown imposed in the valley
COVID-19 cases surge as Govt failed to take preventive measures in time
When Prime Minister KP continued holding meetings of his faction and kept himself busy inaugurating incomplete projects to gain cheap popularity undermining the risk of COVID-19 spread, the situation in many places have already gone out of control.
Had the government taken preventive measures at the beginning of April when the cases were surging in India, the situation could not have been that worse. When the situation in Nepalgunj has already gone out of control with all beds occupied by the patients and increasing deaths, the situation is no different in Kathmandu as well. As a result, many people will be dying this time because of the utter negligence of the Prime Minister.
The valley witnessed over 2000 cases in 24 hours on Tuesday when the national cases were counted at 4524 with 18 deaths.
By Tuesday, the total national COVID tally has jumped to 307,925 and death toll to 3194.
The death rate now stands at 1.04 per cent.
Altogether 4524 persons were detected with virus infection in 15,681 tests, including 14,672 RT-PCR and 1009 antigen done in 24 hours.
Moreover, the virus has reached all 77 districts. On Monday, the daily cases were counted at 3656. Considering the rising cases and deaths from COVID-19, the government decided to impose a lockdown in the Kathmandu valley and other cities.
All three district administration offices (DAOs) of the Kathmandu Valley have issued a weeklong restriction order effective from Thursday morning (April 29) after the cases of coronavirus surged.
After a joint meeting of the chief district officers (CDOs) of the three districts on Monday, a seven-point restriction order was issued, which will remain effective from April 29 to May 5 midnight. The local administrations have restricted holding any kind of assembly, gathering and conference in the valley.
Non-essential services and movements of all types of private and public vehicles have been restricted from 6:00 am to 12:00 p.m. until May 5.
As per the decision, a mandatory quarantine is required for those entering the valley. Those who enter the Kathmandu Valley have to stay in mandatory quarantine or home isolation.
Stating that as new variants of the coronavirus are spreading rapidly, people entering the Kathmandu Valley must now live in quarantine and home isolation prescribed by the concerned local levels, reads the order.
Taking prior permission from the respective DAO has been mandatory to hold marriage and other rituals in the presence of only 15 guests.
Similar, restrictions have also been imposed in Surkhet, Nepalgunj, Birgunj and Pokhara. Meanwhile, suspecting a shortage of oxygen amid increasing COVID-19 cases, the MoHP has urged the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS) to stop the operation of industries that require oxygen.
The MoHP has written the Industry Ministry, urging it to stop the operation of industries that need oxygen.
Many patients in India are dying in lack of oxygen for the past few days.
With the decision to impose lockdown in the valley thousands of people left the valley for their home villages on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Koteshwor, Gaushala, New Buspark, Old Buspark andKalanki areas were crowded with people wanting to leave the valley.
According to the individuals working in the ticket counters, the number of people leaving the valley had risen on Tuesday.
Similarly, among thousands of individuals returning from the valley, most were students as the education sector has been closed and exams have been postponed. Similarly, hostel owners also informed that many hostellers have been leaving the valley in the past few days after educational institutions started being closed down fearing widespread COVID-19 contagion.