CCMC recommends ministries to take additional initiatives to control spread of coronavirus

The COVID-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC), an apex body formed by the government to tackle COVID-19, has recommended the Ministry of Health and Population to ensure effective control, prevention and treatment of coronavirus. 

The CCMC meeting held amidst the sharp rise of coronavirus delta varient on Sunday urged the Health Ministry to raise public awareness and arrange prompt procurement and smooth supply of necessary medicines.

Similarly, the Home Ministry has been asked not to allow gatherings of 25 persons in public places.

Anyone entering the office, hotel, restaurant, cinema, stadium, park and airport is asked to bear vaccination cards and such places are made aware to allow people' entry based on their vaccination card. 

It is, however, to be effective from January 21. The vaccination card is mandatory for anyone to receive public service.

The concerned ministries have been urged by the CCMC to make effective the antigen test at entry points and manage isolation for those tested positive for the coronavirus. Free antigen test booths would be set up at public places and vaccination drives continued regularly nationwide.

The CMMC has directed universities and schools to conduct exams by abiding by health protocol including physical distancing. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has been asked to ensure it.

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation is recommended to reduce crowds at airports and ensure passengers to bear vaccination cards. Only those having vaccination cards can access a boarding pass from January 21.

Similarly, those having full dose vaccination and COVID negative within 72 hours before getting boarding pass would be allowed foreign flight.

For domestic flights, only the passengers bearing vaccination cards would be allowed travel from January 17.

In case of the Nepali citizens, diplomats and those bearing official passports, the entry, quarantine and isolation would be provided if they have come from or used as transit the nine countries including South Africa where the omicron variant of coronavirus was traced first.

The Immigration Department has been recommended to coordinate well with the Home Ministry, Tourism Ministry and Foreign Ministry while issuing travel advisory. The travel advisory should be made effective by fixing time/date after some days.

The Chief District Officers would be directed for the effective implementation of the 'smart lockdown work procedure, 2078'; and 'integrated COVID-19 control, prevention and treatment work plan, 2078' in view of the local context.

The Health Ministry would take further initiatives to spread right information on new variants of coronavirus among the public via medical and health officials.