March 23: All non-essential services have been closed since Sunday (March 22) as per the government announcement to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Addressing the nation in a televised speech on Friday, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli had announced the closure of all non-essential services including schools and educational institutions, community and private offices among others from March 22 to April 3 in an attempt to contain the deadly disease, which has also surfaced in Nepal.

Issuing a public notice on the Nepal Gazette, the government has instructed all the service providers including public and private companies to halt their services from march 22 to April 3 unless those services fall under essential category. The essential services include food supply, health service, security and communication, media among others.

The government has also suspended all passenger flights to and from the Tribhuvan International Airport for ten days starting from March 22. Altogether 28 airline companies including two from Nepal have been operating flights from the TIA.

Likewise, operation of all long-route vehicles has also been halted for the time being. However, private vehicles can travel long distance, according to a decision taken by the Council of Ministers.

The government has already closed cinema halls and other entertainments while the gathering of more than 25 people is also not allowed. All the courts have remained closed since Sunday for two weeks.