COVID-19: High-level committee requires those entering Nepal to self-isolate for 14 days

In a bid to prevent an outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), Nepal has decided to send foreigners entering the country in self-isolation and those Nepali arriving from abroad into ‘home quarantine’.

The viral disease officially named as the COVID-19 has been already declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation and following the WHO announcement, the government decides that foreigners and Nepali should remain in a 14-day self-isolation/quarantine.

The decision will come into effect from Saturday, according to COVID-19 Prevention and Control High-level Coordination Committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokhrel.

As per the meeting decision, non-resident Nepali, diplomats and those foreigners holding ‘official visa’ and those Nepali returning home from outside the country will be obliged to self-isolate for the next 14 days upon their arrival.

More, the government has urged Nepali at abroad to remain on high-alert to prevent the virus infection. The Nepali people have been urged to avoid all except essential travel.

If any Nepali is required to return home due to some urgency, one should acquire a visa from the respective country or a nearby Nepali mission by submitting a medical report mentioning health updates within seven days of the arrival date. The same provision is applied for foreigners.

Those foreigners already having a visa to enter Nepal should submit a medical report of maximum seven days of the arrival date at the points of arrival in Nepal.

The government has suspended the on-arrival visa to foreigners till April 30 to be effective from the Saturday 12:00 midnight.