By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr. 28: The government has decided to exempt tax in the import of oxygen cylinders and other equipment used for the COVID-19 treatment.

In the press briefing organised on Wednesday to make the decision taken by the Council of Ministers public, the government's spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Parbat Gurung said that the government had taken the decision to this effect.

Likewise, in order to prevent and control the spread of the virus, the government has decided to halt public mobility and all other services except essential services for 15 days from 6:00 am on April 29.

According to Minister Gurung, each Chief District Officers across the nation was provided the jurisdiction to impose prohibitory order if the number of active cases crosses 500 in city areas or 200 in hilly and Himalayan districts. "The CDOs can use the rights provided by Local Administration Act 2018 as per the necessity," he added.

He added that at most 72-hour old COVID-19 negative report had been made mandatory for Indian nationals entering Nepal via roadway. "Indian nationals must carry their itinerary revealing that they would stay in quarantine in a hotel for 10 days while entering Nepal," said Minister Gurung, adding that the local administration's approval must be taken while crossing the border.

Similarly, the government has made provision for those entering Nepal via airways to mandatorily produce at most 72-hour-old COVID-19 negative report and stay in quarantine for 10 days.

Moreover, the Communications minister further went on to inform that the government had decided to accept the grant assistance of nine million euros provided by the Finland government for the implementation of the Sustainable Drinking Water and Sanitation Project. "The government has also decided to provide approval for management of the budget for Millennium Challenge Account," he said.