By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Apr. 21: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has directed banks and financial institutions (BFIs) to provide services with full health vigilance amid growing risk of second wave of COVID-19.
The central bank on Monday issued a directive to continue the service in full compliance with the provisions made in the past for COVID-9 risk reduction.
As the second wave of COVID-19 infection spreads rapidly in Nepal, it is important to ensure the business continuity of banks and financial institutions with the necessary health precautions, NRB said.
According to the NRB, the services should be provided to service recipients who are in direct contact with the service delivery by following the health protection standards of the government of Nepal and the World Health Organization to reduce the risk of infection.
The BFIs will have to provide services by making arrangements so that the service recipients are not crowded and physical distance is maintained.
The central bank has also instructed the financial institutions to encourage service recipients to opt for electronic means so as to reduce the number of service recipients as much as possible.
The NRB has directed to keep the door open and provide sanitizer and tissue paper to reduce the risk of infection from ATM outlets.
Similarly, the central bank has directed to ensure physical distance in the programmes such as meetings, seminars, trainings conducted by BFIs and to make arrangements for conducting such programmes through virtual means as much as possible.
As per the directive, the employees should be divided into groups and measures should be taken to create working environment without direct contact between the groups and adopt measures like remote access, work from home, shift work based on the needs.
Arrangements should be made to immediately test the suspicion of infection in the employees and to isolate the infected employees and to quarantine the employees who are on contract testing.
The central bank has also directed the banks and financial institutions to form COVID-19 security management group to facilitate and contact the problems related to COVID-19.
The central bank has also instructed BFIs to update the contingency plan in a timely manner with a detailed action plan for the continuation of the urgent work of the banks and financial institutions.