KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli on Saturday made it clear that the nationwide lockdown enforced to contain the spread of coronavirus will not end anytime soon.

In a video conference with the Chief Ministers of all the seven provinces, the prime minister added that movement through border entry points will be made stricter, according to PM’s Press Advisor, Surya Thapa.

“Lockdown can’t be lifted at the time when COVID-19 cases in India have been increasing at an alarming rate. No one has a right to perform negligence by being guided by emotions,” PM Oli told the Chief Ministers.

Nepal has currently enforced the lockdown until April 15.

Saying that the government was focused on combating COVID-19, PM Oli urged them not to be influenced by delusion and misrepresentation.

The Prime Minister was of the view that the volunteers should work selflessly and they should seek no benefit out of the service.

He also raised concerns about the administration’s carelessness during the lockdown and directed the administration and police to be cautious to prevent the gathering of people in the name of fairs.

Saying that there was no option to maintaining physical distancing, the PM urged the citizens not to be swayed by unnecessary illusion and misinformation adding that the government was focused to work effectively.

The country’s health care sector will make a qualitative stride and special progress will be achieved in laboratory, equipment and health materials, and management of the skilled human resources till the control of coronavirus infection in the country, he said.

During the four-hour-long meeting, the chief ministers shared their initiatives and steps taken for the control of the COVID-19 in their respective states.