Province 5 govt cancels investment summit, all fairs to prevent spread of coronavirus outbreak

KATHMANDU, March 2: Province 5 government on Monday decided to cancel the planned investment summit and all the fairs within the province to prevent the spread of viral outbreak of coronavirus. 

Organizing a press conference today, Baijanath Chaudhary, the spokesperson for the province government said that the province cabinet has decided to cancel the investment summit due to the possibility of spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

Chaudhary who is also the Minister for Physical Infrastructure also urged one and all to avoid public gathering within 12 districts of the province.

With the province government's decision, a trade fair scheduled to begin from March 4 will be postponed. Likewise, a food fair to be held in Tilottama will also be cancelled.

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The decision comes in the wake of the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the global and the risk of transmission through travelers. 

The province government had planned to host the investment summit on April 16 and 17. 

Earlier, the federal government had urged one and all to avoid public gatherings including conferences, assemblies and feasts owing to the outbreak of coronavirus.

With coronavirus now spreading beyond China, the federal government on Monday also announced the suspension of visa on arrival for citizens of China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan from March 7 to March 31.

Earlier yesterday, a meeting of high-level government task-force formed to prevent the outbreak of coronavirus made a similar decision while suggesting the government agencies to take precautionary measures against COVID-19. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ishwar Pokharel.

Similarly, the government announced to cancel all promotional activities related to the Visit Nepal 2020 campaign in foreign countries.