KATHMANDU, March 8: Keeping in view the upcoming Holi festival, which is known as the festival of colors, and the coronavirus epidemic around the world, the home ministry has urged one and all not to participate in activities such as big gatherings, throwing water balloons and smearing color powder on each other. 

In a press statement issued on Saturday, the ministry urged one and all to avoid big gatherings, meetings or programs as precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the Novel Coronavirus as this fatal virus has spread rapidly across a number of countries. 

The Holi festival this year falls on Monday in hill and mountain regions, while it will be celebrated on Tuesday in the plain areas. 

The public appeal by the home ministry comes in the wake of government authorities adopting a number of precautionary measures to stop the coronavirus from entering Nepal. 

“Everyone is requested not to make gatherings, make crowds, throw water balloons and smear color and powder on each other in the upcoming Holi festival as in the previous years since these activities are also deemed risky,” reads the press statement issued by the home ministry.

The ministry has also appealed all people not to start hoarding consumer goods as the general public has started keeping cooking gas cylinders and other daily essentials for months amid fear of their scarcity. While warning that it will take action against those hoarding daily essentials, the home ministry has also urged all people to immediately inform the government bodies concerned about anyone involved in black marketeering and creating artificial shortage of goods.

The ministry has also expressed concern over the panic situation created among the general public due to false information on the virus. The ministry has urged journalists in mass media to disseminate objective and factual news to avoid creating such panick situation.  

The ministry has also said that the government has introduced effective health screening at all customs points and international travel points, and is monitor this disease with enhanced preparedness at hospitals to contain the spread of this disease with priority. 

“The infection of COVID-19 can be prevented in Nepal with the cooperation, support and participation of the general public and Nepal government is committed to adopting each and every measure to prevent the disease,” the ministry said in the statement. 

The government has suspended flights to the countries affected by the coronavirus and stopped all publicity programs of Visit Nepal 2020.

 
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