Kathmandu, April 4
The government of Nepal is waiting for a concrete decision of the Indian government to decide whether to extend the lockdown imposed to control the coronavirus outbreak in the country as the movement in India directly affects the human movement here due to the open border.
Kathmandu has imposed the lockdown till coming Tuesday, April 7, now whereas the New Delhi has already extended it one week further, to April 14.
“But this is not only a problem of Nepal,” a minister on the condition of anonymity says, “We cannot decide solely. We need to wait and see what will happen in India.”
The minister, however, clarifies that the government will make a concrete decision whether to extend it before Tuesday. Some discussions about it have begun in the Cabinet of late, according to him.
The issue has been tricky for the government as extending it could adversely affect the country’s economy and public life, but ending it could also increase threats of infection.
The government announced the lockdown for the first time on March 23 evening to be effective from March 24 to 31. It was extended by one week later. Multiple sources say the government is currently mulling over three options: end the lockdown irrespective of India’s decision, extend it as long as India extends, and partially extend it irrespective of India’s decision.
