KATHMANDU, JULY 31
The COVID-19 Crisis Management Committee Centre (CCMC) has focused on ways for effective execution of mechanisms to control the ongoing spread of the infection.
A meeting of the CCMC held on Friday at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers discussed the latest pandemic situation and the strategies ahead to prevent and control it.
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Home Minister Bal Krishna Khand, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Pampha Bhusal, Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa, CCMC Chief Balananda Sharma and secretaries of various ministries were present at the discussions.
At the meeting, Ministry of Health and Population tabled a proposal to enforce a 'smart lockdown' as per which districts will be categorised with respect to their COVID-19 status and restrictions measures will be enforced accordingly.
The Ministry had earlier warned of a possible third wave sometime around mid-August. It has time and again raised alarm regarding the prevalence of a more contagious Delta variant which is currently spreading in the country.
Likewise, Prime Minister Deuba also alarmed concerned authorities to make necessary preparations such as setting up check points, and ensuring adequate availability of medical supplies, in the meeting.
The infection rate has been increasing, again, of late, after weeks of decline in daily reported cases.
Nepal recorded 3,611 new infection cases and 27 deaths from the virus in the past 24 hours while the nationwide caseload is approaching the 700k mark.
