By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Aug. 19: The government has authorised the concerned District Administration Offices (DAOs) and District COVID-19 Crisis Management Centres (DCCMC) to impose immediate lockdown or prohibition order to contain the spread of the cornavirus in any part of or across the district.
A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Monday decided to authorize the concerned CDOs and DCCMC officials to take immediate action if the cases of virus surged in any particular region, ward, or district in the coming days.
Speaking at a press conference organised to make the Cabinet decisions public on Tuesday at Singha Durbar, Minister for Finance and Communication and Information Technology Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada said such order can be issued by respective DAOs and DCCMC by analysing the risk of the virus and such order should be imposed based on the Section 2 (2) of the Infectious Disease Control Act, 1964.
According to Minister Dr. Khatiwada, in case of any order imposed in a specific area or region, the government offices and other public institutions running under the area should run their offices with the presence of minimum employees and implementing ‘work from home’ for the remaining employees.
Similarly, the Cabinet has given authority to the CCMC-Operation and concerned Ministries and Units for strict implementation of the different guidelines issued on contact tracing, quarantine and isolation management, public health and security, public transformation operations, business offices, movement to be made from international borders, meetings and seminars, ritual and cultural ceremonies and other social activities.
The DCCMCs are directed to monitor the implementation of the orders and the CDO is given authority to take action, fine, and put anyone in custody for defying the order.
Whatever order is imposed in the public and institutions to control the transmission of the virus, it will be the order of the government and the local bodies, and it will be the duty of all citizens to respect and abide by the orders to help reduce the risk of the transmission of the virus in the society, Minister Dr. Khatiwada said.
Compensation to disaster victims
The Cabinet meeting decided to bear all the medical expenses of those injured in natural disasters that occurred in different places of the country, including Lidi of Sindhupalchowk.
For those killed in natural disasters Rs. 200,000 will be given immediately to their family member in case of the death of one family member and additional Rs. 100,000 for the loss of more than one member from the same family.
Also, assistance of Rs. 15,000 will be given to families having up to five family members if the disaster victims have lost their homes, and are left without any food, and Rs. 20,000 as immediate relief amount if the family has six of more than six members.
Injured victims would also be given Rs. 1,000 as transport fare while returning to their home town after receiving treatment.
The Cabinet also decided to provide cash assistance of Rs. 100,000 to disaster victims who wish to construct their own house at a safe place identified by the government by shifting themselves from their original birth place and provide timber in concession from the respective District Forest Office.
The Cabinet meeting has also endorsed directives made for distribution of fertilisers available in assistance from abroad.
Ambassadors appointed
The government has also appointed ambassadors to Belgium and European Union, Pakistan and Germany. Gahendra Raj Bhandari, Tapas Adhikari and Ram Kaji Khakda of Ministry of Foreign Affairs were appointed as ambassadors to Belgium and European Union, Pakistan and Germany, respectively.
Appointments, promotions
The government has appointed Lok Nath Subedi of Phakphok-7 in Ilam as treasurer at Social Welfare Council.
Also, the Cabinet decided to promote five government doctors under Nepal Health Service to the11th level. They include Ajit Khanal, Mukesh Sharma Poudel, Bikash Nepal, Rabin Bahadur Basnet, and Shilu Shrestha.