KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has suggested that the prohibitory order issued in the Kathmandu Valley be extended by a week citing the increasing instances of coronavirus cases in the Valley.

The prohibitory order issued in the Kathmandu Valley is ending today midnight.

The Ministry of Health has suggested extending the restrictions by one week saying that it will be easier to control the epidemic.

Mahendra Prasad Shrestha, chief expert of the ministry, said the risk has not decreased in the Kathmandu Valley and the restriction should be continued for at least a week.

He said that the lockdown should be imposed on those places with more than 200 active cases and curfew on those with more than 500 active cases.

According to him, both these criteria have been exceeded in the Valley, so the prohibitory order should not be lifted immediately. “However, the decision to this regard will be taken by the local administration under the Home Ministry, not by us,” he said.

Head of the Ministry’s Covid-19 Incident Command System (ICS) Dr. Gunaraj Lohani also said that the prohibitory should be continued considering the public health.

According to him, now that the lockdown is fully open, it may be difficult for hospitals and doctors to manage the infection.

He said, “If the lockdown is relaxed the infection will increase which in turn lead to dire consequences. “Even the hospitals will lack beds if the current trend continues,” he said suggesting imposition of strict restriction for a week.

The Valley Municipal Forum has suggested that the border checkpoints should be tightened and people’s lives should be made easier.

The Forum has suggested that private vehicles should be allowed to operate in an odd-even system as before.

However, some experts say restriction alone is not only the solution and suggest moving forward with alternatives.

They have also requested to relax the restriction and normalize the life of the people.