By Purushottam P. Khatri
Kathmandu, June 11: The government has decided to operate all government and private offices in two shifts from June 15 onwards.
A meeting of the Council of Ministers held Wednesday evening took the decision to this effect.
Speaking at a press conference organised to make the Cabinet decisions public on Thursday, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada said that all types of offices could be opened to run regular business by maintaining physical distance and designing internal safety protocol.
The first shift of the job will begin from 8:00 AM till 1:00 PM and the second shift from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Similarly, the Cabinet meeting decided to allow plying two wheelers with only the driver and bicycles from June 15, and implement odd and even number plate provision for other private vehicles in the Kathmandu Valley and outside carrying just two people except the driver.
Odd and even number plate provision doesn’t apply for two wheelers. The decision has come into effect from Thursday, Minister Dr Khatiwada said.
Moreover, the Cabinet meeting has allowed mobility of people on foot and resumption of all types of goods carrying transportation services from Thursday onwards.
The Cabinet meeting also allowed resuming restaurant services only for delivering packaged food and take away facilities to customers.
Hotels and night clubs will, however, remain closed until further notice.
Likewise, the government permitted to resume all kinds of industries, businesses, shops, departmental stores. However, the shopping malls and cinema halls will remain closed until next decision.
Banks and financial sectors have been given authority to begin their services in full swing by maintaining proper physical distance from now onwards, Minister Dr Khatiwada said.
According to Minister Dr Khatiwada, the decision will remain effective from June 15 to next 21 days. “The Cabinet can take any decision and review these decisions at any time by analysing the risk of the COVID-19,” he added.
Services that will remain closed
Educational institutions and tuition centers, All international and domestic flights except permitted flight,
All types of conferences, seminars, trainings, exhibitions, gatherings, ceremonies, cinema hall, party venues, dance bars, night clubs, zoos, public libraries, museums, spa, saloons, beauty parlours, swimming pools, fitness centres, health clubs, shopping malls and sports activities, Religious places,Public vehicles, including tourist buses.
Services to run freely
Solid waste carrying vehicles, fire brigades, ambulances, vehicles of electricity offices communication and broadcast, postal services, banks and financial sectors, cooperatives, nurseries, forest-related entrepreneurships, all agricultural activities, development projects, hotels used for quarantines, offices of NGOs, public vehicles used for development projects by implementing odd and even number plates only for carrying labourers.
– The Rising Nepal
