Nation divided as Nepal prepares to evacuate citizens from Corona hit- China

Feb 12, 2020

Kathmandu (Nepal), Feb 12 (ANI): Ever since the Nepal government announced its plan to quarantine evacuees from coronavirus-hit Wuhan in Bhaktapur province, locals here are demonstrating against the same as the proposed isolation centre is extremely close to human settlements. People fear that they would be infected from the virus which first originated in Wuhan city and has so far claimed the lives of 1100 people in China. The government initiated the process of evacuation of Nepalis from Hubei on February 1. The embassy of Nepal in Beijing requested those interested in returning home to submit applications. By February 2, 180 Nepalis, including three minors, have submitted application. However, the government still has not been able to confirm the evacuation date. The government has not been able to finalise the location to house China evacuees as they will have to be quarantined for two weeks once they return home before they are released. As of now, two buildings of Nepal Electricity Authority Training Centre in Bhaktapur have been vacated to quarantine Nepalis returning from China. Multiple rounds of meetings and consultation with locals have failed to reach any conclusion. Locals of Kharipati have been demanding a health centre in the area as a precautionary measure. As per the ministry of health and population, a total of five hospitals have been nominated as hub hospitals, whereas the number of satellite hospitals have been increased from 15 to 36.