Ministry urges masses to follow health safety protocols

Kathmandu: The Ministry of Home Affairs has urged one and all to follow health safety standards while celebrating festivals.    
The Ministry has sought the implementation of safety protocols in the market as well.    
Ministry's Spokesperson Phanindramani Pokharel said the people have been urged to avoid gathering while celebrating cultural festivals and maintain health safety measures while purchasing daily consumer goods.    
The Ministry has urged the people to observe the cultural festivals just for formality sake this time as COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a public health threat.    
The District Administration Offices across the district have been directed internally to act against any activities capable of creating crowds and ensure the celebration of festivals within a very close circle, according to Pokhrel.    
 "The concept of smart lockdown has been implemented upon analysing the situation and the local administration will carry out its role accordingly," Pokharel said.    
The local administration has been granted the rights to tighten or relax the prohibitory rules and it will prove its role on a need basis.     
Prohibitory order in the Kathmandu Valley has been extended till August 24 as the risk of COVID-19 infection is further increasing.    
The Kathmandu District Administration has called for celebrating the Janai Purnima festival today and the Gaijatra Festival that falls on Monday without creating crowd.    
Chief District Officer Kali Prasad Parajuli has called on one and all to follow the safety guidelines to stay safe from the infection.    
Senior Superintendent of Police Basant Bahadur Kunwar said police is being mobilized in all 77 districts as per the order of the government and the restrictive order against the pandemic issued by the local administration. The infection risk seems to be increasing as business centres, religious places and public areas are crowded even during the prohibitory order.