KATHMANDU, JANUARY 9
Chief district officers of the three districts in Kathmandu valley have started deliberations on imposing restrictions on public gatherings in the wake of rising cases of COVID-19 in the country.
Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Govinda Prasad Rijal told THT said that it had now become imperative to act as the COVID-19 surge was already reaching a dangerously high point.
"The growing number of COVID-19 cases in the country and reports of omicron strain spreading at the community level have drawn our attention. We will take some decision in the next few days regarding this matter," Rijal said. Further, he added that measures would be introduced to restrict gatherings at public places.
The valley's CDOs will also mobilise security forces to control unnecessary large gatherings at public places and ban protest programmes.
Regarding the operation of educational institutions such as school and colleges, the authorities have also said some measures will be introduced.
"We are discussing some measures regarding schools and colleges. We want students to get proper education in their proper physical presence, but if the situation grows severe, we will have to take a tough call," CDO Rijal said.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the three CDOs of the valley regarding the surge in COV- ID cases has concluded indecisively urging people to avoid mass gatherings The meeting also concluded that they would wait for direction from the Ministry of Health and Population and the COVID-19 Crisis Management Committee to take a final call on the issue, according to Lalitpur CDO Ghanshyam Upadhyaya. He further said that the authorities would now focus on three primary things to subdue the COVID-19 surge.
He said the first priority would be to mobilise security personnel and urge the public to avoid public gatherings.
Similarly the authorities will make face masks mandatory for all and accelerate the vaccination drive even for people below 18 years of age.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 10, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
