Nepal increases restrictions as Covid cases surge

Kathmandu, Aug 10 (EFE).- Nepal on Tuesday increased restrictions on people’s movement to try and prevent a fresh wave of coronavirus in the country, with a ban on vehicles’ passage at night, after the country registered its highest Covid-19 caseload since June.

The measure, imposed in the Kathmandu valley, is aimed at dissuading people from going out at night, an activity which has increased despite the authorities only allowing restaurants to serve takeaway orders, Kathmandu’s chief district officer Kali Prasad Parajuli told EFE.

“We were forced to make this announcement as people started dining and partying at restaurants,” he said over the measure, which will come into force on Thursday.

Parajuli explained that except for emergency services, vehicular movement has been restricted after 8 pm to prevent the spread of the virus amid fears of a third wave.

The measure comes on top of other restrictions already in pace, which have been extended for 12 more days as infections have surged in recent weeks

Authorities and local experts warned of a possible third coronavirus wave after the country registered nearly 5,000 fresh infections within the last 24 hours, the highest daily caseload since June.

On Tuesday Nepal recorded 4,904 cases and 35 deaths due to coronavirus, according to the health ministry.

Overall, the country has registered 37,332 Covid cases and over 10,000 deaths.

The Himalayan nation had just come out of a virulent second wave of infections that led to a complete lockdown in the Kathmandu valley from Apr. 29.

At the time, the country had registered similar Covid figures: over 4,800 cases and 35 deaths within a day.