Since the government imposed a lockdown to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control on March 24 last year, it has issued a number of fiats, causing a lot of confusion and chaos for international travellers. After seven months of lockdown, the government decided to resume international flights on select destinations on August 17 along with mandatory provision of a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) report taken 72 hours before boarding a flight and 10-day quarantine in hotels or self-isolation in their home upon arrival here. These rules caused great inconvenience to both Nepali and foreign nationals travelling to Nepal. When the new variant of the coronavirus was detected in the United Kingdom a few weeks ago, the government imposed yet another ban on travel from the UK, where a large number of Nepali expatriates live. This kind of ban not only hurt the already struggling aviation industry but also prevented the Nepali expatriates from visiting their own country. Many Nepalis are stuck in the UK and other countries for want of resumption of flights that have been suspended due to the outbreak of the new variant of the virus, which is said to be more contagious than the current COVID-19.
Considering the hardships faced by the Nepali nationals and NRNs, the Department of Immigration issued a notice on Monday, granting unconditional on-arrival visa to Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs) at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).
NRNs have been included in the list of nationals eligible for on-arrival visas.
The government has already decided to grant unconditional on-arrival visas to diplomatic/ formal passport holders, UN staff and foreigners working in international organisations in Nepal. The coronavirus-related travel restrictions have also been eased, and anyone coming to Nepal with a visa issued abroad will be allowed to enter the country. The on-arrival visa will be issued only from the TIA. However, the rules of negative PCR report taken 72 hours before the departure and 10-day quarantine remain unchanged.
The restriction on international travel has put a spoke in the wheel of the country's tourism and hospitality industry, which has rendered thousands of people jobless since the lockdown. The government's selective decision to lift the ban on international flights has caused more confusion to those who wish to visit Nepal. It was necessary to impose a total ban on international flights to fight COVID-19 when it raised its ugly head. As infection from the virus is waning with each passing day, the government should consider lifting such a ban once and for all. As Nepal has already started the vaccination drive for the needy people and is also all set to inoculate more than 70 per cent of its population within three months, it is not necessary to continue with the ban.
When international flights are resumed without any preconditions, we can expect Nepal's shattered tourism business to return to normalcy to the pre-lockdown period within this year. But we cannot afford to be complacent about the fading trend of the virus. It can resurge anytime soon if no precaution is taken.
We must wear a face-mask, keep social distancing and practise hand-washing to keep the deadly disease at bay.
As infection from the virus is waning with each passing day, the govt should consider lifting the ban once and for all
Cold wave
The cold wave that sets in at this time of the year in the Tarai makes the lives of the people extremely difficult. Poor visibility and the bone-piercing cold force people to stay indoors and resort to whatever ways they can to keep themselves warm. The cold wave in the far west districts of Kailali and Kanchanpur has particularly affected children and the elderly, who suffer from cold-related diseases like pneumonia, asthma and the common cold. As a result, health facilities are flooded with patients, making it difficult for the doctors to cope with them.
The local government does not have a plan of action to beat the cold wave, which is an annual phenomenon.
So people are left to fend for themselves.
While it is reasonable to advise the people not to come out of their homes, except if there is an emergency, rickshaw pullers and daily wage earners have no option other than to work in the freezing cold to make ends meet. The freed-Kamaiyas and landless squatters are just as bad off. While there is not much the local government can do, it could in partnership with charitable organisations provide warm clothes and hot food as well as build fires in the communities to keep the people snug and safe.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 3, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
