Kathmandu/PAris: The Nepal government on Tuesday decided to extend the lockdown period till April 27 as the Himalayan nation continued to witness increase in the number of coronavirus cases, according to an official statement.
The decision to extend the lockdown period was taken during a meeting of the council of ministers here after the number of coronavirus cases in the country increased to 16.
“A meeting of the council of ministers took a decision to this effect as per the recommendation of the High-Level COVID-19 prevention and control committee,” the statement said.
The country has been under lockdown since March 24. All government services other than essential have been shut down and the domestic and international flights have been suspended.
In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the ongoing lockdown imposed to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has been extended till May 11, as the country witnessed over 570 deaths due to the disease in 24 hours.
On Monday, death toll from the novel coronavirus increased to 14,967, after 574 fatalities were reported in a span of one day, Xinhua news agency quoted the Health Ministry as saying.
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 137,877, although infections dropped for the fifth day in a row, it added.
In his third TV appearance since the pandemic hit the country, Macron said on Monday evening: “The epidemic is starting to slow down. The results are there. Thanks to your efforts, everyday we have made progress.
“Hope is reborn but nothing is settled… Everywhere in French mainland or overseas, the (health) system is under pressure and the epidemic is not yet under control. “We must therefore continue our efforts and apply the rules. The more we respect the rules, the more lives we save. This is why strict containment must continue until May 11.”
The announcement came two days before the current confinement, which started on March 17, was due to end on April 15. (Agencies)
