By Purushottam P. Khatri
Kathmandu, Aug. 22: The government has decided to resume regular international flights from September 1. However, the regular flights will be allowed only from those countries which have easy COVID-19 testing procedures and facilitations.
A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on August 20 took a decision to this effect.
Speaking at a press conference organised to make the Cabinet decision public, Minister for Finance and Communication and Information Technology Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada on Friday said that the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation was given the authority to make timetable and routine of the regular international flights ensuring that only 500 passengers land at the Tribhuvan International Airport on a daily basis.
Various preconditions will be applied while regulating the procedures to bring the Nepalis home from abroad, Minister Dr. Khatiwada said.
"Only the Nepalis citizens, envoys from different countries and the Nepalis citizens from different diplomatic missions possessing the negative report of the PCR test conducted within 72 hours are allowed to travel to Nepal," Minister Dr. Khatiwada said.
All passengers brought from such flights should compulsorily stay in the capital's hotel, which they have to book before departing for Nepal, for minimum seven days. Producing hotel booking confirmation ticket is also made compulsory while travelling to Nepal, according to the conditions set for the Nepalis returning to Nepal in regular flights.
While conducting the regular flights, no airlines could bring the COVID-19 positive passengers and healthy passengers in the same flight, and if any airlines are found doing so, the respective airlines should bear all the expenses of treatment of the infected persons, according to Minister Dr. Khatiwada.
Countries with easy and difficult RT-PCR procedures
Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Australia, America, Canada and some other European countries have easy procedures for PCR tests. The government of Nepal will conduct regular flights from these countries from September 1.
The countries having difficult procedures for RT-PCR tests include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and other countries. The government will conduct only chartered flights from these countriesin the coordination of the concerned Nepali embassies, according to Minister Dr. Khatiwada.
Valley Integrated Quarantine Management Committee
The Cabinet meeting has also decided to form a Katmandu Valley Integrated Quarantine Management Committee under the coordination of Home Secretary. Minister Dr. Khatiwada said the committee was formed for proper management and establishment of the required number of quarantines with needed capacities in the valley. In the first phase, the committee will establish quarantines to house 6,000 persons and it will expand them if needed, he said.
The committee comprises eight members and they include the 11th or 12th level employees from the Ministry of Health and Population, a joint secretary from the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, director general from Urban Development and Building Construction, CDOs from the three districts of the Kathmandu Valley, first class security officers from all security bodies, officials recommended by the chiefs of the respective local bodies of the valley, and joint secretary from the Ministry of Home Affairs as its member secretary.
Security responsibility

of managing the integrated quarantines of the valley will be given to the Nepali Army, Minister Dr. Khatiwada said. The committee
will also search for a proper place to establish the integrated quarantine in the valley and take responsibility of its arrangement and management as well. Monitoring part of the integrated quarantine also falls on the committee.
Only patients with symptoms of COVID-19 in hospitals
The Cabinet meeting has also decided to admit the COVID-19 positive patients in concerned hospitals only if they show symptoms of the virus. Those having no symptoms but tested positive for COVID-19 will not be admitted in hospitals. All asymptomatic patients will be advised to stay in home isolations as prescribed by the hospital. Monitoring part of such COVID infected patients staying in home isolations should be done by the respective local bodies. Before sitting in home isolation, the asymptomatic COVID-19 patients should take approval letter from the health offices under the Ministry of Health and Population.
Similarly, the Cabinet meeting took a decision that the government could convert and designate any private hospital, medical college or academy as dedicated COVID-19 treatment hospitals if the situation started worsening in Nepal. Medical teams, doctors, and health workers from any hospitals could be arranged for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, he said. Also, the government decided to increase the PCR tests and make contact tracing further effective.
COVID expenditure 13.22 billion
Meanwhile, the government has said that it spent Rs. 13.22 billion in the treatment, construction of physical infrastructure and purchase of medical goods in different stages required for the COVID-19 patients.
According to Minister Dr. Khatiwada, the expense details include the records kept from March 24 to August 16. As per the details, the Federal government spent Rs. 5.84 billion. Of the total expenses, the Ministry of Health and Population spent Rs. 2.17 billion and the Ministry of Defence spent Rs. 2.37 billion. Similarly, the Ministry of Home Affairs spent Rs. 208.3 million, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rs, 650,000, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rs. 44.9 million the Ministry of Urban Development Rs.12.9 million.
Similarly, the State governments spent Rs. 1.49 billion. Among them, the highest expenditure was made by Sudurpaschim State. The Sudurpaschim government had spent Rs. 428.8 million followed by Karnali State with Rs. 262.6 million.
Likewise, State 1 , State 2, Bagmati State, Gandaki, and State 5 have spent Rs. 207.1 million, Rs. 170 million, Rs.136.7 million, Rs. 185.4 million and Rs. 105.9 million, respectively. All these States have now a remaining balance of Rs. 878.5 million in their COVID-19 accounts. Also, all the local bodies have spent Rs. 6.2 billion in COVID-19 heading. The local bodies across the country have their remaining balance of Rs. 1.35 billion in their accounts.