The government has decided to extend nationwide lockdown until June 14.
The Cabinet meeting held in Baluwatar Saturday evening decided to extend the lockdown, that was to expire on June 2, by 12 days, according to a minister.
The government had first imposed lockdown on March 24 and that has been extended multiple times. The meeting also decided to seal the borders until June 30.
The meeting has decided to repatriate Nepalis abroad on the basis of priority.
The meeting of the High Level Coordination Committee for Prevention and Control of COVID-19 on Friday had concluded that Nepalis can be repatriated by air within 10 days. All airline companies of Nepal will conduct flights to repatriate Nepalis from countries other than India.
The committee estimated that around 3,000-3,500 Nepalis can be repatriated every day if all the fleet of Nepal Airlines and private companies were to operate.
Those wishing to Nepal will have to pay the fare though.
They will be taken to hotels after arriving in Kathmandu. The government will decide the menu and room charge of the hotels and the repatriated Nepalis can choose the hotels they can afford.
They will be tested for COVID-19 in the hotel and transported to the local level concerned if they test negative and quarantined there.
The Foreign Ministry estimates that around 600,000 will have to be repatriated immediately.
