CCMCC recommends ministries for additional initiatives to control spread of coronavirus

KATHMANDU: The COVID-19 Crisis Management Coordination Centre (CCMCC) has recommended the Ministry of Health and Population to ensure effective control, prevention and treatment of coronavirus. The CCMCC meeting held amidst the sharp rise of coronavirus 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 the gathering of more than 25 persons in public places. Anyone entering an office, hotel, restaurant, cinema, stadium, park and airport is asked to bear a vaccination card and such places are made aware to allow people's 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 CCMCC has also urged the concerned ministries to make effective the antigen test at entry points and manage isolation for those tested positive for the coronavirus. Free antigen test booths will be set up at public places and the vaccination drive continued regularly nationwide. Likewise, the CCMCC 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 the airport and ensure passengers bear vaccination cards. Only those having vaccination cards can access to boarding pass from January 21. Similarly, those having full dose vaccination and Covid negative report within 72 hours before getting a boarding pass will be allowed to board the foreign-bound flight. For the domestic flights, only the passengers bearing vaccination cards will be allowed to travel from January 17. In the case of the Nepali citizens, diplomats and those bearing official passports, entry, quarantine and isolation will be provided if they have come from or transited the nine countries including South Africa where the omicron variant was traced first. The Department of Immigration 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 fixing time/date after some days. The Chief District Officers will 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 will further take initiatives to spread the right information about the new variant of coronavirus among the public via medical and health officials. By RSS READ ALSO:

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