The COVID-19 pandemic has sent shockwaves across the globe. It has hit hard the global economy already in a free fall, while threatening the international geo-political order that was in a flux prior to the virus’s spread. It has ground down the world’s production lines, supply chains, tourism, capital and job markets, and livelihoods of the people living on the margins of the society. The real data of economic loss from the contagion comes to light only when it starts to ebb, leaving behind the trail of deaths and devastation. The coronavirus infection is now at its peak in Europe and the US after causing tremendous harms in China. As the infection is spreading at breathtaking speed in different continents, it is next to impossible to predict when it will lower its ugly tentacles and the people will be able to heave a sigh of relief. At the moment, there is no alternative to stringent preventive measures to protect the people from the virus.

For a couple of months after the virus’s breakout in December last year, Nepal seemed to be safe and immune from it. It maintained high level of alertness and focused on awareness of the disease among the masses. But it soon threw itself into action after the WHO warned that the Himalayan nation was at high risk of coronavirus infection. Attaching top priority to the public health, the government announced to clamp a week-long nationwide lockdown, urging the people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary outings. On Sunday, the lockdown was extended for another week till April 7. However, the country has felt the heat of COVID-19 fallout in social, economic and business sectors. Responding to the call for relief package to the highly affected people and areas, the government announced an array of relief measures to sustain battered business and help those who have lost their sources of income.

The relief measures include deferment of tax filing, relaxation on compliance, waiver on tariffs of internet and electricity, and distribution of free or subsidised foods to those deprived of livelihoods owing to the lockdown, among others. In order to manage resources needed to fight the COVID-19, the government has decided to transfer budgets earmarked in the annual expenditure programme, use various funds such as Natural Disaster Fund and muster support from the development partners. The federal government has asked the local units to identify the poor people and provide relief to them through their COVID-19 Fund.

The government has also urged the house owners to waive the rent of one month for the informal sector workers. Such house owners should not pay the rental tax of that period. Similarly, the people will get 10 per cent discount on all food items like rice, sugar, flour and oil if they buy them from the outlets of Salt Trading Corporation Ltd and Food and Trading Management Company Ltd. The companies/industries have been instructed to provide salary to their workers during the period of lockdown. These relief measures are expected to ease the difficulty faced by industries, business sector, daily wage earners and common people. This is a hard time for all. Therefore, the people from all walks of life should demonstrate solidarity and unity to minimise the knock-on effects of the pandemic in the society.