By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 26: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday said that the government was well aware of the fact that the ongoing battle against the coronavirus should not be weakened by any other issue.
In a televised address to the nation this afternoon, Prime Minister Oli said, “As I have said earlier, life is the topmost priority of human beings. The government will leave no stone unturned to save people from the disease and starvation.”
Expressing his gratitude to the support shown by the people in the fight against the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19), PM Oli said the government had expected further constructive support from all people.
“The lockdown is in effect until June 2 and the government is well aware of its impact on overall economy and daily lives of the people,” he said.
From the first week of the Nepali New Year, the country witnessed sudden increase in the COVID-19 cases and now the cases have already crossed 600, said PM Oli.
This underlying problem had demanded for high alert and measures to control the pandemic, said PM Oli, adding that this had called for making each government body more efficient and effective to contain the virus.
“So far, the measures taken by the government have remained successful. Though the ongoing lockdown has affected people’s lives, it has been helping to maintain social distancing, identify the infected, keep them in isolation and help in contact tracing,” he said.
The timely enforcement of lockdown, the decision to seal international border and suspend flights, timely endorsement and implementation of the hospital service operation action plan has prevented us from the possible terrible loss due to the pandemic, he added.
Shedding light on the government plans to tackle the COVID-19-induced crisis, PM Oli said the government had been preparing to establish partnership with the local bodies and make them capable to set up quarantine facility, relief distribution, and manage and monitor the import system.
“To contain the virus, the areas where infection cases have been identified will be sealed off and testing and prevention measures will be intensified on a war footing,” said PM Oli.
“The integrated command and central planning against the coronavirus will be made further effective,” he added.
Stating that a large number of migrant workers had been returning to the country, PM Oli said that for the safety of Nepali migrant workers, he had been holding conversation with the governments and the head of the states of countries where a large number of Nepali migrants had been working. He further added that their governments had assured the safety of Nepali workers.
He said the government would immediately issue a directive along with the comprehensive plan relating to bringing back Nepali nationals stuck abroad due to coronavirus restrictions.
PM Oli further asked people who recently travelled from India to follow all the guidelines like seeking test, maintaining social distance and staying safely in quarantine.

Necessary economic activities will be restarted
“Even during the coronavirus pandemic, our efforts and experiments to keep the economy floating and carry on with development projects, including National Pride Projects, have been successful,” said Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli.
PM Oli said it was possible to move forward with development works during the COVID-19 outbreak by giving examples of projects like Upper Tamakoshi, Melamchi and Pokhara, Bhairahawa and Kathmandu airports and reconstruction of Rani Pokhari and Dharahara.
He further explained that necessary economic activities would be restarted by minimising the risk of infection and added that agricultural works would be carried forward, as emphasised in the government’s policies and programmes with proper social distancing and safety measures in place.
However, administrative restrictions that limit people’s movements will continue in order to prevent community transmission of COVID-19, he said.
PM Oli also addressed the uncertainty surrounding the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) and said that the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology would soon make the necessary arrangements to prevent the students’ academic year from going to waste.
A significant portion of the funds from the Natural Disaster Reduction and Problem Solving Fund and the Natural Disaster Relief Fund will be transferred to the Coronavirus Infection Prevention, Control and Treatment Fund, he informed.
Furthermore, he explained that the government would manage proper relief, including tax subsidies, cost waivers and concessions on loan interest, among others, for the industries and businesses.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the fact that this virus may not go away any time soon and urged everyone to practice healthy and balanced diet, utilise the free time of the lockdown to take exercise, maintain proper hygiene and sanitation, get sufficient rest and keep a high morale to build a healthy and disease-free Nepal.