Students from China to be quarantined in four locations

Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the concerned authorities to quarantine the Nepali students, returning from Wuhan, China, in various locations of the Kathmandu valley.

At a special meeting held at the PM’s office residence today, he directed the authorities to set up and manage quarantine spots in Shivapuri, Ichangunarayan, Surya Binayak and Kharipati, according to the PM’s press advisor Surya Thapa.

The Nepali students and citizens to be airlifted to the country from China will be kept in isolation for up to two weeks in the locations. Accordingly, the Prime Minister directed the concerned authorities to complete all necessary preparations for the same. The concerned ministry and agencies were directed to make full preparations as per the designated action plan for the security of the people’s health considering the risk to coronavirus infection.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Iswar Pokharel, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, Health Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal, Tourism Minister Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, chief secretary Lokdarshan Regmi and concerned ministry secretary, security officials and other officers.

It may be noted that 180 Nepali students have responded to a call by the Nepali Embassy in Beijing for arrangements to be made to return home. The government is working to bring them back to Nepal soon.

The students will undergo tests in Chinese airports and also on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport. And those found infected will be kept in isolation wards in the four locations, said health ministry spokesperson Mahendra Prasad Shrestha. And those not found to be infected will be kept under observation in quarantine for two weeks.

At the meeting, Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Narayan Prasad Bidari tabled an emergency action plan. The government also decided to donate 100,000 protective masks to China, according to the PM’s press advisor Thapa.

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