The government is preparing to extend the nationwide lockdown by another week.
Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli has called a Cabinet meeting on Monday to review the two weeks of lockdown and to discuss the necessary extension.
A minister told Setopati that today's Cabinet meeting will discuss lockdown and shutting down of border points. The minister added that the meeting will also take additional decisions about procuring medical supplies through government to government arrangements.
The one-week extension of nationwide lockdown ends Monday midnight. The government on March 23 had announced a nationwide lockdown for a week effective from the next day. The government a day earlier had also decided to shut down all border points with India and China.
It had extended the lockdown by a week the next week.
Deputy PM Ishwore Pokharel will hold discussion with Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali, Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada and Nepal Army Chief Purna Chandra Thapa earlier on Monday to take proposals to the Cabinet.
The government has already handed over the responsibility of bringing in medical supplies through government to government arrangements in coordination with the Health Ministry.
PM Oli, meanwhile, is preparing to address the nation by Tuesday. He had last addressed the nation more than two weeks back.
A source said the Cabinet meeting may decide about the time of his address. The Cabinet meeting earlier was called for four Monday afternoon, but it was brought earlier to two in the afternoon likely to slot in the time for PM's address, according to the source.
The extension may well be announced through the address.
