By Nayak Paudel

Morang, June 14: Health experts have said that it is the critical time for the citizens to play responsible role to control further spread of COVID-19 when the government has decided to relax the lockdown.
Even when the cases of COVID-19 have been increasing in the country, the government has decided to relax lockdown from June 15 due to suggestions by experts from various sectors citing the innumerable losses.
The cases of COVID-19 have crossed 5,000 in Nepal.
With offices and various businesses allowed to resume, experts argue that improper protection of oneself will lead to further transmission of COVID-19.
“With the government accepting to relax lockdown despite increase in cases, it is now the responsibility of citizens to play a vital role in prevention and control of COVID-19,” said Sameer Mani Dixit, director of research at Centre for Molecular Dynamics Nepal.
Dixit, who has been regularly raising his voice demanding with the government to ease lockdown citing its effects on various sectors, suggests that physical distancing, using masks and washing or sanitizing hands regularly will be the best way to prevent further transmission as lockdown has been relaxed.
“The lockdown has been eased to help people return to their jobs and help support their family economically rather than for roaming outdoors and visiting each other for parties. Unwanted movement and disregarding physical distancing will lead to further increase in transmission, which we cannot afford,” added Dixit.
“The offices and different sectors should have the facility of washing hands regularly along with maintaining enough distance among the workers or visitors. Everyone coming outdoors should work properly on their personal protection by using masks and sanitizing hands habitually,” said Dr Anup Bastola, spokesperson at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital.
According to health experts, despite the lockdown being relaxed, only those who have essential work should leave their houses.
Moreover, experts suggest family members to limit the movement of elderly people and children as they are more prone to suffer the health consequences of COVID-19.
“If a youth unknowingly comes in contact with an individual suffering from COVID-19 by disobeying the rule of physical distancing, the youth concerned can suffer from the virus. The youth then will have higher chance to transfer the virus to his family members including the elderly and children. Similar process of transmission will increase the spread,” said Bastola.
Unless physical distancing is maintained, masks are used and hands are sanitized and washed regularly while lockdown is relaxed, experts argue that the rate of transmission will be much higher if the safety measures are disobeyed.
“The citizens now have the chance to break the chain of further transmission by maintaining physical distance and following personal protection guidelines while the lockdown is relaxed,” Bastola added.
The government has decided to allow mobility of people on foot; plying private vehicles with limited riders; uninterrupted transportation of goods; resuming restaurants with only food packing and home-delivery facility and opening of industries, businesses, shops, departmental stores, banks and financial sector, among others.
The government and private offices are allowed to operate in two shifts – first shift from 8 am to 1 pm and second shift from 1 pm to 6 pm – from June 15.
But the government has decided to continue the suspension of education sector, international and domestic flights, conferences, seminars, gatherings, shopping malls, fitness and recreation centres, religious sites and public vehicles.
The decision to relax lockdown has been said to remain in effect from June 15 for next 21 days with a condition to revoke it the contagion spreads rapidly.