The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be abating gradually across the country. A remarkable fall in new infections and fatalities in the Kathmandu Valley as well as many other virus-hit areas in recent times has clearly signalled this trend. According to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), the rate of infections Sunday dropped below 1,500 in the country on average. A total of 1,421 new cases were detected from among 6,677 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. An additional 1,021 cases were also confirmed from 4,249 antigen tests on the same day. Another promising picture is that the active coronavirus caseload across the country fell to 55,532. Of them, as many as 51,833 patients have been staying in home isolation while 3,699 have been undergoing treatment at different health facilities throughout the country.

Some 871 patients are now admitted to the ICU beds and 250 are getting treatment with ventilator support. One week ago, some 1,100 patients were in ICU and 347 were on ventilators. The highest infection rate was found in Gandaki Province followed by Karnali Province, and Province 1. The infection rate currently stands at 21.1 per cent across the country. In view of the improving scenario, the concerned District Administration Offices (DAOs) have begun easing restrictions. A meeting of the Chief District Officers (CDOs) of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur on Sunday also decided to relax restrictions within the Kathmandu Valley. The partial restriction that is coming into effect from Tuesday will last for one more week. Departmental stores and shopping malls can now open for a limited time on certain days. The shops selling gold, kitchen utensils, electrical and electronics appliances, automobiles and motor parts will remain open from 11am to 4pm on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Similarly, the stores that sell sports items, cosmetics, gift items and clothes will be in operation during the same period on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The shops selling hardware goods that used to run only after 4pm can now open from 11am to 6pm. The local administration has given continuity to its previous decision in regard with the opening of groceries, fruits and vegetables shops and stationeries. The private and public vehicles carrying construction materials can operate from 9pm to 5am every day. The government has also come up with a new decision to enforce an odd-even number system for private vehicles and taxis. Under this rule, the vehicles with even number plates can operate on the even dates and the odd number plates on the odd date. However, cars, jeeps and vans can carry four persons and a taxi is allowed to carry only three passengers. Two persons can travel by two wheelers.

However, all vehicles of government offices, corporations, diplomatic missions, security agencies, health workers and those carrying agricultural products can ply on roads without any hitch. But the vehicle passes issued for those sectors will be invalid from June 22. It has also allowed all the banks and financial institutions to resume their services from all the branches and head offices. However, they need to follow health safety protocols and ensure presence of minimum staff and manage alternate attendance system. For marriage and other rituals, only 10 guests will be allowed to be present in homes. Hotels and restaurants can continue with their online and takeaway services until 7pm daily. As there are still risks of the virus disease spreading again, the authorities concerned must monitor the situation closely and step up necessary measures accordingly.