By Nayak Paudel
Kathmandu, Mar. 22: When the cases of pandemic started surging in March, 2020, the government decided to impose a nationwide lockdown. Education, tourism and transport sectors faced huge losses during the months-long period.
During the lockdown, the authorities had strictly implemented restriction of movement, use of mask and social distance, among others. After the first four months of the lockdown, the government eased movement but still maintained strictness regarding health safety measures.
It was only after nine months that the government lifted the lockdown. However, after the lockdown ended in December 2020, the number of people abiding by the health safety measures declined sharply.
According to the health experts, the number of people not abiding by health safety measures strictly has increased because of the fall in new cases and the availability of vaccination.
“The new cases have been on decline and there is availability of vaccines. It has led the public to defy health safety guidelines because the fear of the pandemic has significantly reduced,” said Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson for Ministry of Health and Population.
Over the last week, around 100 new cases a day on average are being recorded across the country. The numbers have decreased recently if compared with earlier months. In October, 2020 the new cases numbered over 5,000 a day.
While the public were themselves abiding by the health safety measures strictly in the earlier period, the scenario is totally different now.
“When we started running our bus, all people used to wear masks and tried maintaining distance with others. With the days passing by, the number of people wearing masks started declining. Now, only a few wear masks,” said Sabin, a helper of a public bus operating on Bhaktapur-Ratnapark route.
It is not just the public transport, people without masks across several areas have increased the risks of COVID-19. The nightlife in Thamel has also posed similar high risks.
The restaurants and clubs in Thamel have been entertaining visitors since December, 2020 after nine months of restriction during the nationwide lockdown. The restaurants and clubs strictly regulated health safety guidelines in the beginning but now it’s totally different.
“No one without mask is allowed to enter the club. However, after entering, visitors stop wearing masks and they don’t wear it despite our request. They gather and dance in groups which sure poses risk of COVID-19 transmission,” said the manager at a club in Thamel, who wished for anonymity.
The manager, however, further added that they have strictly asked the employees in the club to abide by health safety measures even if the visitors don’t.
Nevertheless, the government authorities urged that it was now up to the public to understand what’s good and what’s not.
“There would be a declaration if the pandemic had ended. Since it hasn’t, people still need to abide by health safety guidelines strictly. It is up to the public and their attitude towards health safety measures which will determine the situation of pandemic in our country,” said Dr. Gautam.