KATHMANDU, Oct 1: Passengers without masks will not be allowed to travel in public transport in the Kathmandu Valley. The decision was taken at a meeting with the chief district officers of three districts of the Kathmandu Valley (Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur) with effect from Friday morning.

Considering the crowds in the valley, separate criteria have been formulated and implemented for the operation of vehicles in Kathmandu. As per the decision, all passengers must wear masks including drivers and co-drivers, a sanitizer must be kept at the door of the vehicle, passengers should be kept according to the approved seat capacity and vehicles are required to be sanitized daily. These rules are imposed from Friday until further orders.

Similarly, people are warned not to go out unnecessarily.  It is mentioned in the order that the festival should be celebrated in a symbolic manner by following all the standard health protocols. People are requested to avoid possible risks of the spread of COVID-19 during the festival. People are also instructed to buy tickets from the official counter and drivers should not to place passengers on the roof of the vehicle.

The order also encourages the use of virtual media as much as possible while holding meetings, seminars. Public service providers are urged to provide services online as much as possible and in case it is an emergency to attend meetings, people should follow all the preventive and safety measures.  

Likewise, Hotels and party palaces should arrange antigen testing facility for their employees if possible. The order states that transportation of construction materials should be allowed from 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM. 

 
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