No need to stay hotel quarantine if PCR negative: Minister Bhattarai

Kathmandu: Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture Mr Yogesh Bhattarai has clarified on Monday that there was no need to stay in hotel quarantine after returning from abroad, if their COVID-19 PCR test report was negative.

He said, “Such persons can directly go home, no need to stay at hotel quarantine in Kathmandu.” The government had previously decided to stay for 7-day compulsory hotel quarantine for all returnees from abroad, which was very costly.

The government has decided to resume rescue flights for Nepalis stranded in many countries. After surge in coronavirus cases in Nepal, the government previously decided to halt all the rescue flights. The government’s decision was criticised by people who were waiting to return home, particularly from Gulf countries.

The ministry will publish a list of destinations by Tuesday to begin for rescue flights. Minister Bhattarai indicated that the countries may include Malaysia, UAE, South Korea, Japan, Hongkong, among others.