By CK Khanal

Katmandu, Mar. 25: General people have appreciated the government decision to clamp a week-long lockdown across the country following a new case of COVID-19 infection in the country.
However, most of the respondents criticised the government for weak scrutiny and other preventive measures taken at the Tribhuvan International Airport and border points.
Effective from Tuesday morning, the government has banned the mobility of people and vehicles except for those in emergency for one week.
Bhim Panta, a resident of Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur, said that the decision of the government was right to control the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
He said that that the government should strictly implement the lockdown decision to control the outbreak of the virus in the country.
He, however, said that the government should not have taken such a big decision if it had been able to tighten the only international airport and border points with India and China after the outbreak in those countries.
He said that the government should take stern action against the people who were not abiding by the lockdown decision and rules in quarantine, isolation as well as at border points.
Panta said that he had planned to study few books and write some articles during this lockdown in line with reading news and playing with kids at home.
Gyani Bohora of Balaju, Kathmandu, said that he had taken the decision of the government positively.
“I heard staying at home and not interacting with more people are major precautions to remain safe from the infection of this virus. If it is true, this lockdown will certainly help people to remain safe from this virus,” Bohora said.
He said that he had strictly followed the lockdown decision of the government and was not allowing his kids to play outside.
Shanta Acharya from Chabahil, Kathmandu said that she had expected the lockdown decision from the government after hearing about the new case of COVID-19 infection in Nepal.
She said that the government should conduct more tests on the suspected persons in line with this lockdown to control the outbreak of the virus
“The government should strictly implement the ban in mobility and gathering of people. From my home I see some children playing in streets and people loitering around,” she said.
Acharya said that the arrival of latest COVID-19 infected patient was

the result of weak management and screening of the government at the airport.
Bipin Shrestha from Budhanilkantha of Kathmandu said that the government should extend this lockdown period for at least 15 days.
As the virus takes time of around 15 days to be detected, the government should extend the lockdown period up to 15 days, he said.
Shrestha said that he had planned to spend time with family members and read news and some books during this lockdown period.
He urged the government for effective management of national citizens coming home from India through different border points to control the spread of COVID-19 in the country.