Since Nepal has been facing an ever increasing threat of the coronavirus, the federal government has reviewed its earlier decisions and re-imposed some restrictions to slow down the spread of the fatal killer virus disease. With the growing mobility of people across the country after the lifting of the nationwide lockdown on July 22, the country has logged a shocking rise in the number of COVID-19 cases. As of Tuesday, the number of infections has reached 23,948 with scores of fatalities. However, an encouraging thing is that more than 16,600 of the total number of persons infected with the virus have so far been recovered. But one of the glaring problems is that hospitals and isolation centres assigned to take care of the patients suffering from the virus are now almost packed to their capacity. Because of this, several patients showing the virus symptoms are even forced to take rest in their homes. This is something that has piled pressure on the government to create additional health infrastructure to deal with the ever rising number of infections.

As part of its strategy to control the spread of the coronavirus, the government, as per the decision taken by the Cabinet on Monday, has directed all the public and private establishments located in the Kathmandu Valley and other districts having more than 200 active cases of COVID-19 to apply the 'work from home’ system. The government has enforced such an alternate work schedule once again with the presence of 50 per cent employees every day in all the government offices, non-governmental oganisations, banks and financial institutions to reduce the movement of people. It has allowed hotels and restaurants operating in the Kathmandu Valley and other at-risk districts just to offer takeaway services for the time being. While disclosing the Cabinet’s decision on Tuesday, Minister for Finance and, Communication and Information Technology Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that the government also suspended all other types of services being provided by the public offices to the service seekers until further notice.

In view of high possibility of the spread of the contagion during the festivals and other gatherings, the government has also called upon the people to observe their respective cultures and festivals at home and perform their daily worships at given temples without making crowds. The government has decided to ban the entry of all types of vehicles and humans into the Kathmandu Valley from the districts with more than 200 cases of virus infection. Another crucial step taken by the government is to extend the closure of the country’s international borders until September 16. With millions of coronavirus cases, India is one of the worst-hit nations in the world. So, the porous border with the southern neighbour must be tightened until the pandemic is brought under control there. Meanwhile, the government has fixed only 10 authentic border points for Nepali citizens to return home from India. They include Kakarvitta in Jhapa, Rani in Morang, Madar in Siraha, Gaur in Rautahat, Birgunj in Parsa, Belahiya in Rupandehi, Krishna Nagar in Kapilvastu, Jamunaha in Banke, Gauriphanta in Kailali and Gaddhachauki in Kanchanpur. Anyway, the government decisions must be implemented in letter and spirit for the effective battle against the virus disease.