Government Spokesperson Gyanendra Bahadur Karki. Photo Courtesy: RSS

January 17: The government has issued an order for the control and prevention of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic along with the emergence of the omicron variant.

Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki shared that the cabinet meeting of January 14 has decided to impose a ban on all sorts of mass meetings, rallies and gatherings until February 12.     

As per the order, any symposium, seminar, review meeting and related activities should be conducted virtually while only 25 persons can attend such events in person with negative report of antigen test in case they are required to organise the programme.    

“Only fully immunised people against COVID-19 can attend such events after January 21,” the order stated.   

 Businesses and companies that provide regular services to the customers need to ensure that the staff members in the forefront of the service undergo Covid-19 tests two times a week. As per the new order, employees working in counters and those who are directly involved in customer care service need to undergo antigen tests twice a week.

According to the state-owned national news agency RSS, film halls, dance bars, clubs, health clubs, gymnasiums, swimming pools and other events that see public gatherings cannot not be operated until January 29.    

Minister Karki said that schools, universities, tuition centres and other academic activities would not be allowed to run in persons until January 29 and urged them to opt for online classes.    

However, the prescheduled examinations of schools, colleges and human resource recruitment, language skill test for foreign employment and exams of medical education shall run by complying with the public health protocol.