KATHMANDU, March 3: While expressing concerns over the government’s lackadaisical approach to deal with the growing menace of the coronavirus epidemic, the main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) has demanded that the government take a comprehensive national initiative to fight against the virus. 

Issuing a 14-point public appeal to the government as well as ordinary public on Monday, the NC also asked the government to temporarily ban the visits of Nepali nationals to the countries that have recorded cases of coronavirus with immediate effect. The party also asked the government to immediately suspend two-way flights to these countries except for the cases of evacuating Nepali nationals.

The appeal issued by the party’s spokesperson Bishwa Prakash Sharma has expressed concern over the poor health screening facilities at Tribhuvan International Airport and land entry points to Nepal at different parts of the country. The party has asked the government to set up special health screening centers at all customs points without any further delay and make it mandatory for all those entering Nepal to undergo health screening. 

The party has also demanded that the authorities ensure coordination between the local, provincial and federal governments to develop a work plan to effectively tackle the challenges posed by the coronavirus. While asking the government to provide adequate number of physicians and health kits at National Public Health Laboratory at Teku, the party has also suggested to the government to introduce appropriate incentives to the medical professionals involved in the treatment of coronavirus-affected people. 

The party has also demanded that the government minimize the psychological impact that children may have as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. While asking the government to ensure the supply of enough N95 masks to the market, the party has also demanded that the government make a contingency plan to address the possible shortage of food items as a result of the effect of coronavirus. 

The NC has also asked the government to start consultations on how it would evacuate the large number of Nepali migrant workers in different countries where the effects of coronavirus have started to surface lately.

Among other things, the NC has demanded that the government develop several quarantine facilities in view of the potential risks of many Nepalis suffering from this fatal virus and launch mass awareness programs through the mass media to make people aware about this epidemic and ways to stay safe.

 
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