Govt likely to extend lockdown by one week

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has recommended the government to extend the ongoing lockdown by a week.

A meeting participated by infectious disease experts on Friday concluded that the lockdown should be extended by one more week.

“The lockdown is necessary as the risk of infection has increased with the return of Nepali migrant workers from India and other countries,” said Dr Khem Karki, Adviser to Minister for Health and Population Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal.

Karki further said that the lockdown will be lifted only after assessing the health status of foreign country-returnees undergoing quarantine currently since the incubation period of coronavirus lasts for at least 14 days.

India had announced a three-week lockdown at a single time while Nepal had announced it twice with one week at a time.

The next lockdown will be imposed for the third week.

“The symptoms will develop only after two weeks and that the process of infection will begin afterwards. Hence the lockdown should be at least for three weeks,” suggested Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, coordinator at Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku.