By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Apr. 26: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Sunday said that the government was not in favour of imposing a nationwide lockdown immediately, stating that it is not the last resort to contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
Briefing about the meeting of the General Convention Organising Committee meeting of the ruling CPN-UML, party spokesperson Gyawali said, “A nationwide lockdown will not be imposed for now. However, hotspot areas of the virus spread might be locked down.”
Lockdown could break the chain of coronavirus infection only for a time being but it is not the last solution, he said, adding, “Our current request is that all citizens follow the health protocols.”
The government wants to avoid any adverse effects on the economy, which is gradually improving from the last downturn, he added. He further said that today’s meeting had decided to mobilise the entire party ranks to launch a campaign against the new variant of COVID-19.
Since a new variant of COVID-19 had been detected lately, Prime Minister and party chairman KP Sharma Oli has directed the party ranks to run the campaign in coordination with all local units and district-level COVID-19 crisis management centres to generate awareness about safety precautions, to install help desks in all districts and run quarantine service effectively for foreign returnees.
Prime Minister Oli also directed the concerned bodies to take a necessary initiative to run the oxygen plants at full capacity, import lifesaving drugs, like Remdesivir for COVID patients and expand the vaccination drive,” said Minister Gyawali.
Moreover, a review of the current situation of the party was made in the meeting.
Minister Gyawali said the meeting
also discussed the possibility of no-confidence motion being filed against the government.
“We have received information about the preparation being made to file no-confidence motion against the government. A decision in this affair will be made at the right time,” he added.