KATHMANDU, Jan 12: The District Administration Offices (DAOs) in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur have urged all people to take necessary precautions against COVID-19 as health officials have warned of the start of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The meeting of the Chief District Officers of these three districts as well as security officials amid rising cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday issued an 18-point order aimed at the prevention of the third wave of COVID-19.  The order to be effective from midnight on Tuesday makes it mandatory for all to comply with the health safety protocols such as wearing masks while going for outdoor activities or in public places, maintaining physical distance, washing hands frequently and using sanitizer, among others. 

Residents in Kathmandu Valley have been asked to carry vaccination cards (soft copy also works) while accessing public amenities effective from January 21. For them to access public places such as hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, stadiums, airports and gardens, among others, vaccination cards are made compulsory. 

As per the order, gatherings of more than 25 people are restricted for any political, economic, social and other activities. Political, social and administrative events with a larger number of attendees have been banned in public spaces. 

All are advised to obtain permission from the local administration for essential works and services. Furthermore, all schools within the Kathmandu Valley have been appealed to coordinate with the local levels to ensure vaccination to all students aged between 12 to 17 years. 

The schools will halt teaching-learning activities in the physical presence of the students till January 29 as per the directive of the Ministry of the Education, Science and Technology. To conduct exams that are already scheduled as per the academic calendars, schools have been advised to do so complying with the health safety protocols. 

The public offices receiving a higher number of service-seekers shall render services making sure that crowds are not formed. The isolation centers and treatment facilities in the private healthcare institutions and at the local level will be operational to treat the COVID-19 infected and suspected ones. 

The DAOs in their orders have also called for adequate arrangement of oxygen cylinders. They have urged ordinary people to handover cylinders used during the second wave of COVID-19 to hospitals, industries and local level.

The 18-point order states that the public vehicles are barred from carrying more passengers than their actual seat capacity. All the driving crew members and passengers must wear the face mask, gloves and other protective gear.  

Security agencies will routinely monitor whether the orders were obeyed or not and those found not abiding the order shall be brought to book in accordance with the Infectious Disease Act-2020 BS, according to the order. 

The order warns of taking action against those involved in black marketeering, creating artificial shortage of essential goods such as medicines and disrupting the supply of essential goods as per the existing law.

(RSS)

 
• DAO
 
• COVID-19
 
• precautions