The government is preparing to open government offices in two shifts.
A minister confirmed with Setopati that the Cabinet meeting Wednesday night, that took decision to relax lockdown in three stages, decided to start the first shift from eight in the morning till one in the afternoon, and the next from one in the afternoon till six in the evening to ensure there is no crowd
"Doing so will ensure that works can be done at optimum level while also stopping crowding," the minister stated. "This may well be implemented from June 15. It will be in force once the detailed plan is prepared."
The minister added that the government will discuss with transport entrepreneurs about whether public transportation can be operated maintaining physical distance.
"Few passengers will have to be kept if physical distance is maintained and appropriate safety measures are taken. It is important to discuss how our mass transportations system that are always crowded can manage that," the minister reasoned. "They may ask to charge a higher fare for keeping fewer passengers. The government should discuss how to manage that."
The minister revealed that the government has yet to take a final decision about how to implement the three-stage relaxation of lockdown that the Cabinet meeting Wednesday night decided on recommendation of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC). The first stage starting from Thursday will apply for 21 days and the next two stages for 15 days each.
The government will take stock of situation after completion of all three stages and then open all sectors. This means that it will take at least 51 more days for complete end of lockdown. The government can make necessary changes if the situation worsens in the intervening period.
All kinds of essential services, and agricultural sector will be opened adopting appropriate safety measures and social distancing in the first stage. Development-construction works and factories will also be opened. Restaurants can provide takeaways and banks and financial institutions will also be opened while other government and private offices can operate with 50 percent of staffers.
The government will take stock of situation after 21 days and will implement the second stage if situation is favorable.
Government offices, nongovernmental organizations, private organizations and banks and financial institutions will operate with 75 percent of staffers in the second stage. Electric rickshaws can operate with one passenger in one row, taxis with two passengers, and restaurants and eateries with a distance of at least two meters between the tables in the second stage.
The government will take stock of situation after 15 days and will implement the third stage if situation is favorable.
Government offices, nongovernmental organizations, private organizations and banks and financial institutions can operate in the third stage. Inter-district transportation can also be allowed if there are less than 100 active cases in the districts concerned. All kinds of vehicles with 50 percent of seating capacity, domestic flights, hotels, lodges, resorts, travel agencies, trekking, mountaineering will be operated in the third stage while booking of international flights will also be allowed. Training and tuition centers will be opened while educational institutions will also be opened for examinations.
