KATHMANDU, July 21: The government has decided to continue to close the country’s international borders until August 16 even though it decided to lift the ongoing lockdown from Tuesday midnight, nearly four months after it was enforced to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease(COVID-19).

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Yuba Raj Khatiwada said the government decided to continue to close the international border with the view of controlling the spread of COVID-19. A cabinet meeting held recently had decided to extend its earlier decision to close the international borders that expired on Tuesday. 

While Nepal has suspended all international flights from March 22, the government has deployed Armed Police Force (APF) personnel along the Indo-Nepal border to control cross-border movement. While both domestic and international flights are allowed to resume operation starting August 17, the APF personnel will guard the border to check cross-border movement of people except from the designated entry points.

Minister Khatiwada, who is also the government's spokesperson, said those crossing the border illegally  and those helping to cross the border and providing shelter will be liable to  punishment as per the existing laws.

 
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