March 24: The government has allowed Nepali nationals stranded across the Nepal- India border to enter the country on Tuesday (March 24). They were stranded after the government sealed the international borders earlier this week to check the spread of the deadly Covid-19 which has already killed more than 18,000 people across the world, according to the latest update.

However, those coming to Nepal from across the border   were allowed entry on condition that they stay in quarantine for two weeks.

According to government spokesperson Yuba Raj Khatiwada, the quarantine arrangement would be managed in coordination with the local administration and provincial governments.

Khatiwada, who heads the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, said that the one-off decision was taken to allow the stranded Nepalis into the country considering that those people were not well informed about the border closure and lockdown.

Emerging after a meeting of the high-level committee to prevent the spread of coronavirus,

Minister Khatiwada said that  the  government has decided to urge the private sectors to bring in medical equipment in view of the short supply in the domestic market.

According to the minister, efforts would be made to bring the medical kits from China and India in collaboration with the private sector as the government’s process would take a long time.

Minister Khatiwada added that the meeting also decided to regulate the supply chain.

The meeting also concluded that there was no need to clamp curfew at the moment as most of the people have abided by the government directive to stay home. Khatiwda further said that the government might reconsider its decision if the people do not follow the orders.

Anyone disobeying the order would be prosecuted in accordance to the Infectious Disease Act, 2020.    
The government has urged the people not to leave home except for urgent situation like treatment and to procure essential food items.