Deputy Prime Minister to make appeal with new public health standards today

KATHMANDU: The government is going to issue new standards of public health stating that the second wave of COVID-19 is starting to spread in the country, causing severe health risks. 

With the issuance of the new criteria, the government is going to appeal to the people about the rules to be adopted by the public. 

The cabinet meeting held last evening decided to spread awareness among people about the new species of COVID and appeal to the public about the new criteria before taking any decision to close any area immediately.

The cabinet meeting discussed the latest proposal of the COVID Crisis Management Center (CCMC), said Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Parbat Gurung. The CCMC had proposed to close the educational institution for three weeks.

Deputy Prime Minister and CCMC Coordinator Ishwor Pokharel will appeal to the people of the country through the media on Tuesday. Besides, Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi and Government Spokesperson Parbat Gurung will also jointly appeal to the people to follow the standards along with Deputy Prime Minister Pokharel.

Discussions were held in the Council of Ministers, including an assessment of the spread of the UK variant and the increased risks. However, the government has not reached the conclusion of immediate lockdown or closure of any sector, including educational institutions.

The government is going to take decisions based on the situation of transmission. Despite pressure to close educational institutions as children are more infected in the second wave, the government will take a decision only after discussions with stakeholders.