KATHMANDU: The government has dissolved the High-Level Coordination Committee for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 formed under the coordination of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Ishwor Pokharel in three and a half months.

The work being done by the High-Level Coordinating Committee and its responsibilities including the prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19 has been shifted to the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) set up two and a half months ago under Pokhrel’s coordination to work effectively, quickly and systematically.

With the dissolve of High-Level Committee, the CCMC has become more powerful and the workload of the Nepal Army, which has been playing an active role in the response to COVID-19 from the very beginning, has also increased.

According to a government minister, the last Cabinet meeting decided to dissolve the high-level coordination committee. But the government has yet to make official information public.

“The High Level Coordinating Committee was working on policy formulation, the role of a bridge between the government and the CCMC and the preparation of proposals for the purchase of health equipment when needed. Now, all the responsibilities of the committee have been transferred to CCMC,” the minister said.

The CCMC was also tasked with tracking, tracing and testing people as required for possible prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19 infection, keeping them in quarantine as per criteria, keeping them in isolation for treatment and necessary treatment, and managing the bodies of the deceased.

CCMC has been mandated to formulate and implement the necessary procedures and protocols for mobilizing health workers, ensuring the supply of medical equipment and providing guidance on issues related to treatment, supply and safety.

The CCMC has added Minister for Foreign Affairs; Minister for Tourism; Minister for Energy and Minister for Agriculture recently.

Meanwhile, the committee has Minister for Home Affairs; Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, Minister for Health and Population, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies including chiefs of the four security organs.