As number of COVID-19 cases exceeds 2,000, govt may declare public health emergency

Published On: June 4, 2020 01:30 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Cabinet meeting scheduled today is expected to take decision on the recommendation of health ministry

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has decided to recommend to the government to declare a state of public health emergency as the number of active COVID-19 cases in the country has already exceeded 2,000.

A meeting at the MoHP on Wednesday decided to recommend to the government to declare a health emergency as per the Infectious Disease Act, 1964.

As per the COVID-19 Health Emergency Response Plan, the government can declare a health emergency after the number of cases exceeds 2,000.

After the government declares a health emergency, asymptomatic COVID-19 patients will have to stay at home isolation.

According to Gunaraj Lohani, chief of the Incident Command System at the MoHP, the ministry is recommended that the government declare a public health emergency as the number of COVID-19 cases has been increasing in three figures every day.

In the meantime, a cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held this evening. The meeting is expected to take a decision on the recommendation of the MoHP. Likewise, the meeting is also expected to take decisions on easing the nationwide lockdown.

As of Thursday morning, the number of coronavirus cases stands at more than 2,300, with nine deaths.