WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 45 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 36.7 C 0.9 C Friday, April 10, 2020 | 28-12-2076 Bhairahawa Jumla Nepal Police’s Provinces roll out decision to deduct salaries for Covid-19 rapid testing on all fund unfair on its personnel, critics say suspects and all Decision has been those who recently roundly criticised for being unjust on police personnel working long returned from India hours for meagre pay. As there are concerns about the efficacy of the test kits

BINOD GHIMIRE and the rapid testing method itself, PCR tests will be KATHMANDU, APRIL 9 conducted on any positive samples, Health Ministry says. The Nepal Police’s decision to deduct the pay of all officials above the rank ARJUN POUDEL of assistant sub-inspector to contrib- KATHMANDU, APRIL 9 ute to the government’s fund to fight Covid-19 has been met with dismay, After long weeks of pressure from the with many believing it could affect the public and from public health experts, morale of security forces. mass testing for Covid-19 among The police’s decision, made on Nepalis suspected of harbouring the Wednesday, makes it the first institu- disease has finally begun. tion to divert salaries towards the Sudurpaschim Province began national fund, but it has not been a mass testing in Kailali and popular one. As per the decision, Kanchanpur on Thursday, using all ranks from assistant sub-inspector the rapid test kits imported from to the inspector general will China by Omni Business Corporate contribute three to seven days’ salary International, a controversial private to the fund. firm. The prime minister and ministers On Thursday, 66 tests were conduct- have also pledged to contribute a ed in Kailali and Kanchanpur dis- month’s salary while a majority of tricts, with all the results negative, lawmakers have pledged 15 days’ sala- said Dr Bikash Devkota, spokesperson ry to the government’s Coronavirus for the Health Ministry. POST PHOTO Infection Prevention, Control and “Rapid tests have also begun in Test samples are collected from Covid-19 Treatment Fund. Baglung, Myagdi and Parbat dis- suspects at a mobile camp in Jumla. But police officials, incumbent and tricts,” said Devkota. former, and members of the ruling “Tests will be performed on samples Those tests have yet to be conducted. Nepal Communist Party have from all suspects and those who’ve Saturday’s Cabinet decision appears described the Nepal Police’s decision entered the country recently and are to have galvanised the Health Ministry as unjust for those who are on the in quarantine.” to begin tests without awaiting the front lines, after health workers. The Health Ministry was unable to results of the kits themselves. But Since the country has been under provide exact figures on the total num- ruling party insiders believe that the lockdown for the last two weeks, with ber of people tested on Thursday. test kits are being used to send a mes- an extension until April 15, police offi- A Cabinet meeting on Saturday had sage that there was nothing wrong cials have been on the streets for hours decided to conduct mass tests in three with the procurement of medical sup- on end, often without adequate protec- districts—Baglung, Kanchanpur and plies from China, and to help exoner- tion, in order to ensure that people Kailali, where a majority of Covid-19 ate Omni of any wrongdoing. abide by the lockdown. cases have been reported. The Health Ministry is now prepar- “The decision is quite demotivat- However, the veracity of those test ing to employ the rapid test kits across ing,” a police inspector on duty at results could be called into question, the country, not just the three districts Koteshwor told the Post on condition as rapid test kits imported from China identified by the Cabinet. of anonymity because he feared retri- have been found to be faulty and defec- “We have dispatched 5,000 rapid bution for speaking out against a tive by a number of European coun- diagnostic test kits to each province,” departmental decision. “We are sur- tries. In order to ascertain their effica- Devkota said at a regular press brief- prised that the decision has been cy, the government had mandated the ing on Thursday. The government has imposed on police officials who are on Nepal Health Research Council to test around 75,000 rapid test kits, as part of duty for up to 12 hours a day.” POST PHOTO: KIRAN PANDAY the kits with the assistance of the the deal with Omni. >> Continued on page 5 Local residents block a suspension bridge in Darechowk, Chitwan to restrict movement during the nationwide lockdown amidst Covid-19 fears. National Public Health Laboratory. >> Continued on page 5 Nepalis in Portugal live in fear of coronavirus infection but are financially insulated The Portuguese government has temporarily provided all migrants with full citizenship rights to ensure that everyone has access to health care and social security.

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL was reported to be infected in Faro, KATHMANDU, APRIL 9 about three hours from Lisbon. A total of 17 Nepali workers were It has been over three weeks since quarantined at a school in Odemira Nabaraj Pokhrel left his apartment two weeks ago after an Indian in Lisbon. Like many other coun- co-worker tested positive for Covid- tries, Portugal has enforced a state 19. They were allowed to go home of emergency in light of the Covid- on Sunday after none of them 19 pandemic, limiting all residents showed symptoms. to their homes. Pokhrel, along with At least 11 Nepalis in Portugal his wife, two children, and two have so far tested positive for the other Nepalis who share the flat, coronavirus. has been inside. Nepali groups in Portugal have There’s no work since the city is extended support to Nepalis affect- under a complete lockdown until ed by the pandemic but both April 17, as the Portuguese govern- Pokhrel and Thapa worry that the ment has extended the state of infections among their compatriots emergency. will rise, especially given “Every time we go out to buy close-quarters living conditions groceries, it feels like a war zone,” and their nature of work. Pokhrel told the Post over the phone “Work in the agriculture sector is from Lisbon. REUTERS still continuing in rural areas “As the coronavirus can spread An elderly woman arrives at a triage area at Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. because the harvest cannot go to through human contact and also waste,” said Pokhrel. “While work- from the items we bring home, we deaths as of Thursday. Portuguese government’s extraor- ing in farms, they have to work in are afraid for the next few days and For residents in Portugal, includ- dinary measures meant to protect groups, which raises the risk of hope we don’t get sick. Everyone is ing the nearly 30,000 Nepalis, this families and workers affected by infection. living in fear of infection.” has meant a loss of jobs, no public the pandemic, the country’s social According to Thapa, Nepalis also Portugal, a European country of movement and no leaving the home. security system will guarantee pay- tend to live together, crammed into over 10.28 million people, reported “In Portugal, most Nepalis are ment of 70 percent of monthly small apartments to save rent its first case of Covid-19 in early workers; only a few are students,” remuneration while employers will money. In cities like Lisbon, some- March and the first death in mid- said Raj Kumar Thapa, who’s been need to provide the remaining 30 times as many as 15 Nepalis live March. Since then, cases have con- living in the Portuguese capital for percent. together in an apartment, he said. tinued to multiply, with over 13,000 the last four years. “Over 90 percent Portugal has temporarily extend- Although they live in fear of positive cases and as many as 380 of Nepalis are working in the hospi- ed full citizenship rights to all infections, most Nepalis are utilis- tality sector because of migrants and asylum seekers, ing the lockdown to spend time their knowledge of the allowing everyone within its terri- with their families, which they do English language, which tory access to its health care and not often get to do because of their comes handy while dealing social security systems. work, said Pokhrel. But despite the with visitors. But hotels This bodes well not just for hardships, they are thankful to and restaurants have closed Nepalis who are living in lockdown have ended up in Portugal, a coun- and they’re all home now.” without jobs but also for those try that has put in place measures But unlike in other coun- who’ve been infected with the dis- to help them. tries, Nepalis in Portugal ease, as they will likely not be bur- “We see the benefit of living in a don’t have to worry too dened with massive hospital bills. country with a good social security much about losses in According to Pokhrel, eight system,” said Pokhrel. “It feels like incomes and not having Nepalis, including a pregnant not a single cent we paid in taxes has money during the lock- woman, have been infected with gone to waste and the money comes down. As part of the Covid-19 whereas another Nepali back to us at a time of crisis.”

C M Y K FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 | 02 MEDLEY

Inside the Post Quote of the day

Nepal government derecognises Honorary Consul of Kyrgyzstan Agrawal, National Page 3 The Province 1 government has announced to provide Rs 5 million to the families of the medics and other frontline workers who die on duty while providing treat- ment to the coronavirus infected patients. “We gave maximum privileges to the honorary consuls. Many Opinion countries, including India do not If the coronavirus can infect humans across the world within weeks, can humans, in turn, exploit karunavirus as a contagious antidote to the ills of the world the extend such facilities.” virus has helped diagnose? Former diplomat Madhubhan Poudel on the government decision to derecognise Sulav Agrawal as Money Honorary Consul of Kyrgyzstan over black marketeering scandal. The Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board shut down all sales at the country’s largest vegetable and fruit market from Thursday after Kathmandu Metropolitan City expressed concern over the large number of shop- pers gathering at close quarters. Most read online World Barring unforeseen disaster, Joe Biden will represent the Democratic Party Foreign Ministry suspends blue plates and flags for all Nepal- against President Donald Trump this fall, the former vice president’s place on the general election ballot cemented by Bernie Sanders’ decision to end his cam- based Honorary Consuls paign. . The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has suspended the privileges of using blue number plates and country flags on vehicles employed by all Honorary Consuls in Nepal. The Foreign Ministry’s decision came after Sulav Agrawal, owner of Culture & Arts Shanker Group and honorary consul of the Kyrgyz Republic in Nepal, was Musician Frank Zappa’s quote, “So many books, so little time”, has so often been arrested on charges of black marketeering using his official vehicle. tossed around as an excuse for not being able to finish a book. But right now, that is not something we can use. Government to roll out rapid testing kits without waiting for assessment results Although rapid test kits acquired from China have yet to be tested for validity and efficacy, the government is pushing through with using them in mass tests News Quiz for Covid-19 in Gandaki and in Sudurpaschim provinces. Earlier this month, the government had procured 75,000 rapid test kits from China through a controver- POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA sial tender with a private company, Omni Business Corporate International. 1. In which of the following prov- a. Birgunj customs A boy plays jump rope outside his house in Mangalbazar, Lalitpur, on Thursday. inces is the government rolling b. Kakadbhitta customs out rapid test kits for mass c. Bhairahawa customs Nepali students abroad seek help from their Covid-19 tests? d. Gaddachauki customs government amid coronavirus crisis a. Province 1 b. Bagmati Province 5. Which English Premier League As the crisis triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic deepens across the world, c. Province 5 club became the first to announce On this day in history Nepali students abroad are seeking their government’s help in deferring pay- d. Gandaki Province their players will defer part of ment of tuition fees and rent and raising the ceiling on the amount their par- their salaries amid the coronavi- ents can send them. Various Nepali missions abroad have started surveying stu- 2. According to the International rus pandemic? People’s movement day celebrated dents regarding problems they are facing due to the crisis. Labour Organization, what per- a. Manchester United cent of work hours is expected b. West Ham United KATHMANDU – Senior leader Ganesh Man Singh was critical of the current politi- to be wiped out globally due to c. Crystal Palace cal scenario as he organized a tea party here Sunday on occasion of the anniver- Valley residents concerned by dwindling food supply the coronavirus pandemic? d. Southampton sary of the reinstatement of democracy. His message released Sunday said dan- as lockdown lengthens a. 10.7% gerous tendency was evolving which was proving detrimental to multi-party Concern is rising among valley residents who have been housebound for the b. 7.6% 6. After how many days was the democracy. But the opinion of many other political leaders was mixed. past two weeks as the lockdown has been extended till April 15, and their food c. 6.7% lockdown in the Chinese city of Multi-party democracy was announced on this day five years ago following a supply is dwindling fast. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies said d. 4.8% Wuhan, the epicentre of coro- people’s movement called by the Nepali Congress and the United Left Front. that grocery shops would be allowed to open, but the local units have prevented navirus, lifted? Commander of the people’s movement Ganesh Man Singh has been calling for them from opening or permitted them to remain open for a brief period only. 3. How many helicopter compa- a. 76 days celebration of this day saying it is more important than democracy day. nies are there in Nepal? b. 80 days Three former Prime Ministers—Rastriya Janata Parishad president Matrika a. 15 c. 122 days Prasad Koirala, Nepali Congress president Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and b.10 d. 94 days Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Lokendra Bahadur Chand—were present at c. 12 Sunday’s celebratory tea party. Corrections d. 9 The Kathmandu Post In the article ‘A good workout during quarantine will keep you healthy—and sane’, 4. Despite the Department of April 10, 1995 published on Page 8 on April 9, it was erroneously stated that The Pump is a CrossFit Customs making protective gym. Gymkhana is the only certified CrossFit affiliate in Nepal. gear compulsory, staff of which Answers to News Quiz: 1(d), 2(c), 3(b), 4(a), 5(d), 6(a) For the most recent corrections, visit kathmandupost.com/corrections. border customs complained of lacking protective gear? REUTERS HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) CANCER (June 22-July 22) LIBRA (September 23-October 22) CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** ** **** *** Today, it’s not about figuring out what other A very small detail could derail some of your Pay close attention to any feedback you’re given Make sure you do your research today. Knowing people can do to make you happy. It’s not even plans today. But that doesn’t mean you should today. It will be highly perceptive and extremely the ins and outs will put you ahead of the game. about figuring out what you can do to make be paranoid about little things. Rather, just be accurate. The more off base it seems, the more If you’ve got a job interview, find out what the yourself happy. It’s about figuring out what you aware that this slipup may occur. You can’t on target it actually is. It’s time to be a bit more company is all about. The same thing applies if can do to make others happy! Be of service to make everything perfect even on the best of obedient. When you follow guidance in the right you’ve met someone on a dating app. Learn a someone who needs a hand. days, so don’t waste your time trying. way at the right time, you can reap a big payoff. little more about the other person.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) LEO (July 23-August 22) SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** *** **** ***** There is a lot of love swirling around you today, It might feel like pulling teeth to get a friend to Planning can be a lot of fun for you today, espe- By surrounding yourself with people who are so why don’t you reach out and get some of it for join in on your latest idea, but it will be worth all cially if the details involved are small ones. more grounded than you are right now, you’ll yourself ? You deserve it. Start showing yourself the effort. This pal needs to be advised about This is the perfect day to move forward on slowly become much more grounded yourself. the affection you want other people to show you, what to do next. You’re ready to be more sponta- future travel, meeting, or party plans because These are the people who can teach you how to in whatever way you feel is appropriate.You neous, and a few of your friends really need to you’ll finally get all the information you need eliminate the extraneous from your life, as well can’t rely on other people to pamper you. be a bit more impulsive, too. from all the people involved. as how to see things as they truly are.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) VIRGO (August 23-September 22) SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) PISCES (February 19-March 20) ***** ** *** *** Talking and socialising could take up a lot of While today won’t offer any exceptional achieve- Some good news could send your mood sky- Be extremely careful about the people you get your day. You’ll get a huge kick out of chitchat ments, it could definitely set the stage for them. rocketing! A green light is shining brightly, involved with right now, especially when it with your friends. Today, it’s all about who has a Think of this as a final round of auditions in letting you know that things are looking good comes to business dealings. Do you really know crush on whom, what the hottest new trend is, which you’re sure to move forward to the next and you’re clear for takeoff ! But before you who you’re dealing with? These people aren’t and where everyone is hanging out. Sure, it stage in whatever competition you’re in. head for the wild blue yonder, make sure you’re revealing enough about themselves, and there is might not be the most compelling talk. Although you’ll have to wait a little bit longer. wearing your safety belt. a reason that they’re being so mysterious.

CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K 03 | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 NATIONAL Nepal government derecognises Honorary Consul of Kyrgyzstan Agrawal ANIL GIRI KATHMANDU, APRIL 9

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has derecognised Honorary Consul of Kyrgyzstan Sulav Agrawal two days after he was found to have misused the vehicle of his office and national flag of the country he represented in Nepal. The ministry has derecognised him as honorary consul and informed Kyrgyzstan through diplomatic chan- nels about it, Chief of Protocol Gahendra Rajbhandari told the Post. Police on Tuesday arrested Agrawal, the owner of Shanker Group, on charge of blackmarketeering thermal guns used to screen people for high fever by setting up shop in his ‘blue number plate’ vehicle. Agrawal was arrested in Naxal for selling infrared thermometers, which cost around Rs 3,000-3,500 per unit, at Rs 15,000 each. Police had confiscated 67 thermal guns, which are in high demand because of the Covid-19 pan- demic, from Agrawal. Following the arrest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, withdrew certain facilities and privi- leges accorded to all honorary consuls based in Nepal. Almost all honorary consuls in Nepal belong to a business house. There is a race among businessmen to land the position as it brings them social prestige and they can avail var- ious privileges provided by the state to diplomats, officials say. The position is voluntary. “In the context of the incident in which an Honorary Consul was found POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI to have engaged in illegal activity mis- Priests participate in the ritual bathing of Rato Machhindranath in Lagankhel, Lalitpur. using his position and privilege grant- ed for his official function, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decid- ed to withdraw certain facilities and privileges provided to the Honorary Consuls based in Nepal,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Tatopani border opens for one-way cross-border As per the decision, honorary con- suls in Nepal will no longer be allowed to use blue number plates on their vehicles and fly the flag of their respective country. movement of essential goods from China to Nepal But they need not remove the national flag in their office, said Rajbhandari. There’s no certainty when the Rasuwagadhi border point will be opened for trade with the northern neighbour, as Nepal is under lockdown. Officials said that they received complaints of misuse of vehicles by PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA the supplies of medical logistics in Khatri, however, said other traders honorary consuls, but they did not KATHMANDU, APRIL 9 need of preventing and controlling have not yet come up with the plan to have the evidence to take action. the epidemic and the items of daily import goods from China. “We gave maximum privileges to Despite the government’s decision to necessity in one-way direction Meanwhile, traders who have been the honorary consuls,” said former reopen the Rasuwagadhi and Tatopani through Zhangmu (Tatopani) border importing goods from China have said Nepali ambassador Madhubhan border points with China for the point to Nepal,” reads the letter seen the opening of the Tatopani border Poudel. “Many countries, including movement of goods, the northern by the Post. meant little to them since the restric- India do not extend such facilities.” neighbour has only agreed to open the The embassy has also asked the tion had only been lifted for the import Prior to 2007, all honorary consuls Tatopani border for now. Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordi- of medical goods and food. stationed in Kathmandu used private On March 25, the high-level coordi- nate with the authorities concerned to Bachu Poudel, president of Nepal number plates in their vehicles. Later, nation committee for the prevention facilitate the clearance of cargoes, Trans-Himalaya Border Commerce they complained to the foreign minis- and control of Covid-19, headed by avoid cargo stockpiles at the border Association, a grouping of traders try that they were facing difficulties Defence Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, had point and manage and control the involved in Nepal China trade, said discharging their duties and asked for decided to reopen the two border movement of people across the border. most of the traders imported gar- special privileges. points to ensure the supply of essen- Nawaraj Dhakal, spokesperson for ments, footwear and electronic items One honorary consul told the Post tial goods, including medicines and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce from China. on the condition of anonymity that medical equipment. and Supplies, told the Post that the “Apple, onions and garlic are also the decision to strip the honorary con- Both border points have remained letter does not mean that the imported from China but their trade suls of 51 countries based in closed since late January to prevent Rasuwagadhi border point was being POST FILE PHOTO volume is insignificant,” Poudel told Kathmandu should not be a concern the possible spread of coronavirus closed off permanently for bilateral The Tatopani border point had remained closed since late January. the Post. for those doing their job well. “ The which was first detected in Wuhan trade. He added that nearly 1,000 Nepal- incident has lowered our stature in city of Hubei province in China in “Maybe they [the Chinese] do not the first delivery of goods from the be upgraded to meet the World Health bound containers carrying various the diplomatic and business commu- late 2019. consider it appropriate to open both border point since the lockdown. The Organization’s guidelines, was exam- goods remained stuck at Kerung, off nity,” he added. In a letter to the Ministry of Foreign border points with Nepal when the consignment was disinfected and ined by health workers,” Paudel said. the Rasuwagadhi border point. But there are those who believe that Affairs on April 2, the Chinese country is under lockdown,” Dhakal sealed before it was allowed to enter “Only food and medical items will be “Those containers won’t be allowed the decision will have an adverse Embassy in Nepal had suggested that said. “Our policy is to open all border Nepal. brought for now.” to enter Nepal until the Rasuwagadhi impact on the work of honorary con- the Chinese government could open points but they have suggested reo- Rajkumar Paudel, chairman of According to Lal Bahadur Khatri, border point is reopened. Then again, suls working hard to promote bilateral the Tatopani-Khasa border to facili- pening the Tatopani border point for Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality, said chief of the Tatopani Customs Office, there is no point in bringing them ties, trade and tourism. “This kind of tate the movement of goods. now by preparing a certain protocol to the border point was reopened after a private company, BM Trading, here due to the lockdown,” Poudel a blanket suspension will harm those “To promote China-Nepal avoid the Covid-19 spread risk.” establishing health desks on both brought 7,500 pieces of N-95 masks said. who are doing well,” said Poudel. “It Friendship, the Chinese side will con- On Wednesday, medical goods were sides of the border. and around 300 litres of sanitisers (Anish Tiwari contributed reporting would have been better if only the tinue to assist Nepali side to import brought from China via Tatopani in “The health desk, which will soon from China. from Sindhupalchok) accused was punished,” said Poudel. Dang bans individuals and organisations from distributing relief on their own The decision was taken to streamline the relief distribution process and to avoid crowds, officials at the District Administration Office say.

DURGALAL KC In Dang, organisations and individ- the two men said. DANG, APRIL 9 uals are distributing relief materials Meanwhile, Tulsipur Mayor and organising community meals to Ghanashyam Pandey, said they have The District Administration Office in feed the impoverished people, which established a food bank to distribute Dang has banned individuals and has led to people coming out of their relief through one-door policy. private organisations from distribut- homes and breaching the lockdown. “If anyone wants to help the ing relief materials to the impover- The local administration’s decision impoverished, they can deposit food ished families during the Covid-19 to ban individuals and organisations grains in the food bank. The sub-me- lockdown. from organising relief programmes tropolis has been distributing the col- According to Assistant Chief has been met with derision. lected food grains as per the recom- District Officer to Ganja Bahadur MC, In Ghorahi, Ujyalo Bihani mendation of the ward offices,” the ban was imposed as some organi- Foundation, a social forum created by Pandey said. sations and individuals were found local youths, has been organising The sub-metropolis has been dis- distributing relief materials for door-to-door food distribution. tributing relief materials based on publicity. Rodan Mahara, a campaigner, said recommendations of ward offices. “Photos and videos of relief distri- they have started the door-to-door In Rapti Rural Municipality, too, bution were posted on social media campaign to help the impoverished relief materials are being distributed sites just to garner hits and likes,” MC during the lockdown period. “Usually, from designated centres run by ward said. “We have also been informed the government relief doesn’t reach offices, where individuals and organi- that various organisations and indi- the impoverished families on time. We sations can make contributions. viduals collect relief in the name of don’t know what the government poli- “We are receiving help from various the poor and organise distribution cy says. This is humanitarian work we organisations and individuals. Food programmes without coordinating are doing,” said Mahara. grains and other daily essentials col- with the local units.” The decision has also angered the lected in the rural municipality are On Tuesday, the District poor communities in the district. being distributed through ward com- Administration Office in Dang issued “There’s nothing to eat in my house mittees,” Numananda Subedi, chair- a public notice to inform not to con- now. I have to borrow food grains man of the rural municipality, said. duct these kinds of activities that go from my neighbours. What other According to the District against the government policy. people give us is not enough but it’s Administration Office, out of the total According to government policy, relief better than government relief that is 100 wards in the district, relief are distribution programmes can only be yet to reach us,” Lal Kumari Rasaili, a being distributed to 25 households conducted in coordination with the local of Ghorahi Ward No. 16, said. (per ward) on average. local units. Amit Kashaudhan and Madhusudan “We have requested the local units When organisations and individu- Pulami of Lamahi Bazaar started to distribute relief from their own als take it upon themselves to organ- providing free meals to pedestrians offices to avoid crowds and minimise ise these relief distribution events, it from Tuesday onwards. the risk of spread of the coronavirus,” creates a logistical nightmare for the “We are doing this to help the Chief District Officer Govinda Prasad POST PHOTO: DURGALAL KC administration, MC said. people stranded in the Bazaar area,” Rijal said. A relief distribution programme organised by the Ward 16 office of Tulsipur Sub-metropolitan City in Dang.

C M Y K FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL ‘Karuna’ in a post-coronavirus world Nowhere to go The pandemic has made us simultaneously empathetic The government should take care of and estranged with fellow our migrant workers. humans. Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and South Korea are all major labour DINESH KAFLE destinations for Nepali migrant workers, and they are also all in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic. The migrant workers there face an uncertain future as lockdowns in Nepal and the host countries have been extended. Not just the migrant labours, Covid-19 and its subsequent effect on the economy has made the entire labour sector vulnerable. A recent report Before it became a part of our everyday by the International Labour Organisation said the pandemic life, many of us South Asians pro- was expected to wipe out 6.7 percent of work hours globally nounced coronavirus, either in jest or in the second quarter of 2020. This is equivalent to 195 mil- out of ignorance, as ‘karunavirus’, which lion full-time workers. translates as ‘empathy-virus’. We It need not be said that this is worrying. But what’s couldn’t have thought of a better misno- mer. But since we have the luxury to more worrying is that the government has yet to create pontificate over the mundane and the any concrete plan as to how to go about in this time of phenomenal alike—thanks to the lock- unprecedented crisis. down—we might as well give the mistak- As per the latest finding of the ILO Monitor, 1.25 billion en identity some attention. Could the coronavirus be nature’s way of telling us workers are currently employed in the sectors identified as to be more karunik, or empathetic, to being at high risk of ‘drastic and devastating’ increases in fellow human beings? If the coronavirus layoffs and reductions in wages and working hours. The can infect humans across the world with- majority of these workers are employed in low-paid, low-skill in weeks, can humans, in turn, exploit jobs, where a sudden loss of income is devastating. karunavirus as a contagious antidote to the ills of the world the virus has helped With Nepalis sending $8.1 billion back home in 2018, Nepal diagnose? is the 19th largest receiver of remittance in the world. When Empathy, an emotional capacity to compared to the country’s gross domestic product, remit- understand and engage with others, is tance is as large as a third of the total, larger than the contri- what makes us social—and humane— beings. Contra empathy, estrangement is bution from industries. In fact, Nepal issued 3.5 million an emotional state of being unwilling to labour permits between 2008 and 2017. The country owes a lot understand and engage with others. But to them, but ever since Covid-19 started spreading outside of these are not mutually exclusive: togeth- China to the rest of the world, Nepali migrant workers have er, they define the perpetual emotional remained stranded in foreign labour destinations. Needless turmoil we humans go through all the time. Though undesirable, the conflict to say, this dies not bode well for them. between empathy and estrangement is For example, nearly 500 Nepali migrant workers in Romania not an aberration. We faced it recently SHUTTERSTOCK have been forced to either stay home without pay or take sal- even as we came to terms with what is world. As all disasters do, the pandemic actions as normal as touching, embrac- belonging. If no step is taken towards ary cuts as the Covid-19 pandemic wreaks havoc in Europe. In arguably the most poignant image of the has brought out the best and the worst in ing or meeting another person that we making this world a better place, our coronavirus conundrum in Nepal: a us. We are suspicious of foreigners, took for granted have become a potential collective grief that we are showing Malaysia, Nepali migrant workers are being forced to work Nepali man, in soggy underwear, being neighbours, relatives and family mem- threat to our lives. We have now sudden- today will just be an ephemeral emotion- even as the country went under a lockdown. Malaysia has escorted by policemen right after he bers. We want to go as far away from fel- ly had to come to terms with new social al outburst rather than a genuine will to been the hardest hit among the Southeast Asian countries by swam across the Mahakali into his low humans as possible. We continue to and political norms and unlearn the old change. the pandemic with more than 1,300 cases of Covid-19. What’s homeland. be blatantly inhumane to other human ones. As a society, we are emotionally as Although the virus is considered ‘egal- more, Qatar deported hundreds of Nepali workers. We were horrified to imagine that the beings on both political and personal strong as our weakest link. And it is itarian’ since it affects people across the man could have been any one of us, levels. India’s lockdown has left millions exactly such situations when we are will- barriers of caste, class, gender, race, The Nepal government, in its efforts to contain the disease, returning home in the face of uncertain- struggling for food and shelter even as ing to change in order to survive. ethnicity and nationality, it has exhibit- has imposed travel restrictions, banned all international ty abroad. We loathed the government television anchors and right-wing The sudden necessity to stay apart ed to us the deeply fractured society we flights, extended the nationwide lockdown and sealed its bor- for its shoddy treatment of the man, and propagandists fuel Islamophobia, term- together has allowed us to think of our- live in. Who gets to be treated continues ders with India and China. These moves are required and thousands of other migrant Nepalis, ing a religious congregation held in selves as part of a universal human to be determined by these barriers. A who came knocking on the border gates New Delhi last month as ‘coronajihad’; community more than ever. In no temporary plan to contain the contagion commendable too. But the government has fallen short of for a last-minute return home. We the Chinese continue to face racial dis- moment in the past several decades has does not help solve the structural prob- repatriating its own people who as it is live in precarious implored the government to bring all crimination for being ‘agents’ of the humanity come together for a common lem that leaves people from backward conditions in the Gulf countries. Nepalis stranded at the Nepal-India bor- virus; the US faces accusations of ‘pira- cause—the will to survive—like it has castes, communities, genders, nationali- The authorities must immediately carry out their own der into the country and put them in cy’ after it redirected masks and medical today. But are we willing to acknowledge ties and regions unable to fend for them- assessment of the potential impact on migrant workers, and quarantine. We felt vindicated when the equipment bound for France and the wrong turns we took all the way and selves in the face of a pandemic as well Supreme Court passed an interim order Germany. turn back? as in daily lives. And a temporary plan not just rely on reports published by international organisa- to that effect. We cheered the govern- But we have also been bound by The pandemic has allowed us, for the cannot change the way nuclear super- tions. It is the government’s responsibility to take care of the ment when it brought 175 Nepalis from unprecedented solidarity with strangers, first time in decades, to think of humans powers haggle over masks even as their vulnerable population. In the short run, they must be provid- Wuhan in February. like never before, in collectively mourn- across the globe and acknowledge our nuclear weapons are ready to be launched ed with economic support during such times of crisis. But in But we were also worried if those ing the deaths of Italians, Chinese, responsibilities towards other inhabit- any minute. returnees were active agents of the Spaniards, Americans or Indians who ants. It is time to ask ourselves whether It takes years—even decades—of the long run, the government must not promote overseas virus. We protested when the govern- fell prey to the pathogen. But we have universal humanity trumps national undoing the conflict we have unleashed work as an instrument to sustain economic growth. ment tried to turn empty buildings into also witnessed people bending over back- borders. And it is time to consider wheth- amongst ourselves and divided the quarantine homes for the China wards to help the poor and the needy er we can quarantine ourselves from our world. We need an ethical and political returnees. We wanted them to be able to with essential supplies; doctors working hatred of others. It’s imperative to con- perspective that looks at the world anew return home but wanted them to stay tirelessly to ensure the infected are taken sider our options right away as to wheth- and paves way for structural changes in away from us. care of; and those of us not on the front- er we would like to continue to engage in the global order. It takes time for those It is this ethical paradox—of being lines helping by simply staying home. We the competitive exploitation of people, changes to manifest, but the discourse empathetic and estranged with others are not only in a medical emergency but living beings and the planet, or make must begin now. That will really be the We want to hear from you simultaneously-that explains our emo- social and political ones as well. Social efforts, even if minuscule, towards fos- acid test of how advanced we are as a tional state in the post-coronavirus norms have come under erasure as tering universal humanity, empathy, and human—and humane—society. We regularly publish Letters to the Editor on contemporary issues or direct responses to something the Post has recently pub- lished. Please send your letters to [email protected] with ‘Letter to the Editor’ in the subject line. Please include your address, phone number we can reach you at and your email address. Stepping into the crisis How to make sure your letters are published? It’s simple—just follow these basic guidelines: the federal government. It exposes Keep it short. Your letters will have a better chance of success if The Covid-19 crisis will the incapability of the provinces to you keep it within 400 words. If you’re writing commentary, pitch be a litmus test of proactively step into their territorial an op-ed instead. jurisdiction. As the risk of infection spreads into Tell us what we got wrong, but back it up with resources. Nepal’s fledgeling remote areas, it will further expose our local governments or the lack of it. Rural Avoid jargon, use clear words and sentences. Keep in mind you’re federal system. municipalities with sparse settlements communicating with other readers who may not be aware of the will struggle to handle cases of complex subject. viral infections with modest facilities ANURAG ACHARYA and an insufficient number of health We welcome witty letters. But please don’t go overboard. professionals. There will also be increased pressure on the municipal gov- Avoid abuse and diatribes. ernments to provide relief to the eco- nomically vulnerable population. There are already reports of localised conflict over relief distribution, that will test local security and governance across Nepal has been under lockdown for over various municipalities. two weeks now. It may be the unprece- When the news of the disease out- Have something to say? dented scale of the contagion or the lack break and deaths came out of China, of trust in our own public healthcare nobody expected it to spread as rapidly The Kathmandu Post invites you to submit well-researched, systems, but Nepalis are showing as it did. But, Covid-19 has exposed our unapologetic opinion pieces. To make sure your articles get our remarkable discipline of social distanc- vulnerabilities and the limitations of attention, we ask that you keep the following things in mind when ing which has helped to contain the SHUTTERSTOCK human civilisation to cope with crises Lonely dogs and pigeons lie down in the sun near Bouddhanath Stupa, without the usual crowds, inquiring and submitting content to the Post: spread of the disease. With the elite pri- like never before. Even as we live through vate health system chickening-out dur- during the lockdown on March 25. the pandemic, the economically interde- All your opinion pieces should be pitched to the Opinion desk— ing this crisis, we are finally being pendent and geopolitically volatile world not to the editor-in-chief. Email your piece or idea (accompanied haunted by the policy choices we have sis. Those that have run out of cash and ing for a ride back in the ferry trucks order may not change much, as global with a high-resolution headshot) to [email protected]. made. Nobody would know that better supplies in big cities like Kathmandu, that bring in supplies for those of us who superpowers are caught between hard than those who have called the shots Pokhara, Biratnagar and Birgunj, are can still afford it. Bikram may be forced choices of collaborating and competing. We will only respond to pitches that have original ideas. We from Singha Durbar and are now as wor- bundling-up their belongings and mak- to join the long march home—sooner But, it does provide an opportunity suggest that you google your pitch before writing to us. If you’re ried for their loved ones as the rest of us ing a long painful journey home. rather than later. It is a silently unfold- for governments, especially in develop- submitting an article that either the Post or other publications are. Dr Govinda KC may have finally ‘Do you think the lockdown will be ing humanitarian crisis. ing countries, to rethink their own made his point, without skipping a meal. extended?’, asked Bikram, my next-door When Nepal adopted the federal sys- priorities. have already covered in the past, tell us in a sentence or two why It isn’t exactly clear to what extent the neighbour who runs a local barbershop tem, it was expected that the government Having lived through the 2015 earth- your story offers something new. Covid-19 crisis will affect our economy in Dhobighat, Lalitpur. Bikram still has a would come closer to the people through quake, Nepal should be hopeful. But it The Post receives dozens of pitches every day from aspiring that was barely recuperating from a dec- week’s worth of supplies left. He hasn’t elected representatives at the provincial, must know the limitations of external ade-long conflict and another decade of exactly figured out what happens when municipal and ward-level offices. support, as well as the importance of writers, students, political commentators, entrepreneurs and dip- instability. But the government has done that runs out. Standing between the fenc- However, more than two years later, all investing in strengthening local lomats. We are not able to respond to every single email, but if we well to maintain the essential supplies in es, I told him the local ward offices are three tiers of government have been capacities and preparedness. Our politi- like your idea, we will get back to you soon. Please DO NOT pitch the market through selective outlets, and finally collecting the data of wage work- caught unprepared to handle the crisis cal bosses should have known by us an idea if you’re already pitching it somewhere else. commendable coordination between the ers for relief distribution, but he has his within their respective constituencies. now—when the disaster strikes, it major importers, retailers and the com- reasons for worrying. This is glaring in the federal govern- does not discriminate between the class- We carefully review submissions to ensure that no plagiarism mercial banks. Nobody is complaining A hard-working man from India’s ment’s mismanagement and alleged mis- es and the masses. As the number of has occurred. If we find any articles that have been plagiarised, about why the garlic costs have trebled Motihari district in Bihar, Bikram has appropriation over the purchase of infected in Nepal nears the double-digits, such practice will lead to blacklisting. or why hand-sanitisers and masks have been running his hair salon for five emergency medical supplies from China, all three governments should proactively suddenly become rare gems—nobody years. He earns well for himself but has as well as in the tragic images of the step into their jurisdiction, take Finally, please tell us who you are in a sentence or two when you that counts anyways. been hit by the crisis, having sent all his returnee population being abandoned at necessary policy decisions and collabo- send us your story ideas. We want to know where you have Tea-shops, eateries and road-side ven- savings back to his family for his broth- the Nepal-India border. The failure to rate among themselves, and make the published before or what your expertise is on the topic you’re dors have remained shut, and thousands er’s wedding. Hundreds of Nepali and immediately establish functioning quar- best use of available resources to serve interested in exploring. of men and women working in the infor- Indian migrant worker families walk the antine facilities along all major bor- and protect their population. It is a lit- mal sector have already lost their jobs cold spring mornings towards the der-points, in anticipation of the return- mus test for Nepal’s fledgeling federal and livelihood due to the unfolding cri- Balkhu and Koteshwor intersection, hop- ing migrant population, is not only on system.

C M Y K 05 | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 NATIONAL Province 1 announces Province 5 to perform rapid diagnostic Rs 5 m for families of frontline tests on all quarantined individuals The Province Public Health Laboratory in Bhairahawa has tested 36 samples workers who die on duty so far, out of which 31 tested negative for Covid-19. Government has also decided to provide ‘encouragement allowance’ to health workers. AMRITA ANMOL BUTWAL, APRIL 9

MADHAV GHIMIRE government, said ment has dismissed five doctors at In a bid to curb the spread of the novel BIRATNAGAR, APRIL 9 Province 1 has not reported any Butwal-based Lumbini Provincial coronavirus, the Province 5 govern- Covid-19 case so far. Hospital for not reporting to work in ment has decided to perform rapid The Province 1 government has times of public health emergency. diagnostic tests on all individuals announced to provide Rs 5 million to Dr Rajendra Prasad Khanal, the staying in quarantine facilities in all the families of the medics and other Province 1 has medical superintendent at the hospi- 12 districts of the province. The total frontline workers who die on duty tal, said Dr Tara Prasad Sharma, Dr number of people quarantined in the while providing treatment to the coro- not reported any Baradan Oli, Dr Prakash Neupane, Dr province stands at 2,506. navirus infected patients. Subas Chandra Chaudhary and Dr Sudarshan Baral, minister of Social The Cabinet meeting held on cases of the novel Prakriti Karki were relieved of their Development, said his office has start- Tuesday decided to provide the duty for taking leave without inform- ed conducting rapid diagnostic tests amount to the families of health work- coronavirus so far. ing the hospital in the time of crisis. on those who have completed two ers, security personnel, ambulance “The government will terminate weeks in quarantine. drivers, employees of local units and health employees who refuse to report On Thursday, the ministry deployed other individuals deployed in the fight The tests of swabs collected from on duty during the pandemic. I have six teams of health workers to test the against Covid-19, Internal Affairs and suspicious patients in the province also instructed the health institutions health condition of individuals stay- Law Minister Hikmat Bahadur Karki are being conducted at Dharan-based to not grant any leave to their staff, ing in various quarantine facilities in POST PHOTO: AMRITA ANMOL said. BP Koirala Institute of Health except for maternity, mourning and the province. Each team is assigned to The federal government sent 5,000 rapid diagnostic test kits to Province 5 on Thursday. “The government also decided to Sciences. As of Tuesday, 85 of the 90 sick leaves for the time being,” Social cover two districts. provide encouragement allowance to swab samples had tested negative for Development Minister Sudarshan “Every individual who has complet- Umashankar Chaudhary, chief at the “We are planning to test 900 to 1,000 the health workers mobilised under the coronavirus while the results of Baral said. ed two weeks in quarantine will Health Division in the Ministry of samples in Baglung using RDTs,” said the provincial government and its the remaining five samples had not undergo RDTs from Thursday. If their Social Development, said, “As of now, Pokharel. According to the local subordinate units,” Karki, who is come out. (Amrita Anmol contributed reporting reports are found negative, they will 33 coronavirus suspected individuals administration’s data, 900 individuals also the spokesperson for Province 1 Meanwhile, the Province 5 govern- from Butwal) be sent homes. If the results are posi- are receiving treatment at various have arrived in the district from India tive, we will send the samples to coronavirus-specific hospitals in and abroad in the past month. Kathmandu-based Sukraraj Tropical Butwal, Dang and Banke.” Gaulochan Sainju, chief district and Infectious Disease Hospital for Rapid diagnostic tests for Covid-19 officer of Baglung, said the district further tests,” he said. are currently being performed at the has so far received 1,000 rapid diagnos- On Thursday, the federal govern- Province Public Health Laboratory in tic test kits. “We plan to conduct tests Nepal Police’s decision to deduct ... ment sent 5,000 rapid diagnostic test Bhairahawa. The lab has so far tested for up to 100 individuals in a day,” said kits to Province 5. A team of health 36 samples, out of which 31 have tested Sainju. >> Continued from page 1 workers, led by Dr Ramesh Kharel, negative for the disease. The results of Kailali and Kanchanpur districts The government on March 23 had delivered the kits and necessary medi- the remaining five samples are yet to also started performing rapid diagnos- set up the Coronavirus Control and cal equipment to the province’s come, said Chaudhary. tic tests from Thursday. Ram Prasad Treatment Fund and called on all to Ministry of Social Development. The Dhaulagiri Zonal Hospital in Ojha, the lab inspector at the contribute financially. But many say team also took stock of the situation Baglung also started conducting rapid Provincial Public Health Laboratory that Nepal’s fight against Covid-19 has in Province 5. diagnostic tests Thursday morning in Dhangadhi, said 20 lab technicians not been wanting due to a lack of So far, 152 swabs have been collected onwards. Dr Shailendra Pokharel, from Kailali and Kanchanpur have funds. A slow response and poor coor- from Covid-19 suspects in Province 5. medical superintendent of the hospi- been mobilised to conduct the test. dination among agencies are largely Among them, 125 have tested negative tal, said health personnel can test a Prakash Baral in Baglung and to blame for the slow response while for the disease while the results for the sample within 15 minutes through Arjun Shah in Kailali contributed corruption allegations against sitting remaining 27 are yet to come. Dr this process. reporting. ministers, including the defence min- ister who leads the committee for the control and prevention of Covid-19, have led people to lose faith in the government’s initiatives. Surkhet’s According to former security offi- Provinces roll out rapid cials, any contributions to the govern- ment’s fund should be voluntary, rath- Covid-19 test er than mandatory, and that security personnel have the legal right testing on all suspects ... to their full salary, especially in times of crisis. >> Continued from page 1 “The presence of IgM means patients lab sending “The practice of mandatory deduc- There are, however, concerns not are suffering from an acute infection tion from police officials’ salary just with the test kits but with the while the presence of IgG means the should be stopped,” Hemanta Malla, a rapid testing method itself, which patient was infected at least some two samples to former deputy inspector general, told tests for a specific antibody in the weeks ago. The test can thus be useful the Post. POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR blood. in people who do not have symptoms Nepal Police headquarters, The ongoing nationwide lockdown that was enforced on March 23 has been tightened. According to Dr Anup Subedee, a but were infected. PCR tests also have Kathmandu however, has defended the decision, consultant infectious disease physi- their limitations and are not a gold saying it’s just a continuation of past field too questioned the rationale Covid-19. cian, there are two antibodies in the standard.” The lab’s testing machine practices. behind announcing a special allow- Lawmakers receive Rs60 million blood that the rapid test looks for— According to Devkota at the Health Senior Superintendent Umesh Raj ance, only to have their own depart- under the controversial Infrastructure immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immu- Ministry, the government will be con- malfunctioned as staff Joshi, spokesperson for the Nepali ment deduct their salaries. Development Partnership Programme. noglobulin G (IgG). ducting PCR tests on any samples that Police, said that the law enforcement “The government is taking back the Some have even provided the exam- The IgM antibody, which is pro- test positive on the rapid tests. It will were compelled to run a agency has always been at the fore- allowance it pledged to us,” said the ple of the Indian government which duced a few days after the onset of not be announcing positive cases front when it comes to contributing to police official who was on duty at on Monday endorsed an ordinance to symptoms, is believed to fight the based solely on the rapid tests, said high number of tests. government-established funds in Koteshwor. cut the salaries of the prime minister, infection while IgG, which is produced Devkota. times of crisis. Two weeks ago, the government had ministers and members of parliament at least a week after infection, pro- “It is good that the government is “This is not the first time the police announced allowances equal to the by 30 percent and use that money to vides longer-term immunity. doing both,” said Subedee. “We will KALENDRA SEJUWAL force has decided to deduct the salary salaries of police personnel directly combat the disease. If someone has just been infected also know the validity, strengths and SURKHET, APRIL 9 of its officials,” Joshi told the Post. involved in rescuing Covid-19 patients, Some leaders within the ruling with the coronavirus, the rapid tests weaknesses of the test kits by per- “We are aware of the ongoing criti- under the Patient Receiving Team. An party also called the decision to force will not provide a positive response. forming both tests.” The coronavirus test lab at Karnali cism, which depicts the love of the allowance equal to 50 percent of sala- police personnel to contribute wrong. But the tests can be useful in detecting The Health Ministry also said that Provincial Hospital in Surkhet has people for police personnel in the ry was announced for those on the “Instead of decreasing the salary of the presence of the virus in asympto- 2,895 tests had been performed started sending throat swabs to field.” team but not directly involved in res- ministers, lawmakers and high-level matic cases. through polymerase chain reaction Kathmandu for Covid-19 test due to Malla, the former police official, cues. Others deployed as a part of officials, the decision to take money According to Todd Pollack, tests–2,382 by the National Public the malfunction in the province’s only however, said that such mandatory Covid-19 response team are entitled to from police personnel working on the assistant professor of medicine at Health Laboratory and 513 by other testing machine. practices need to stop. Rs300 a day. frontlines and risking their lives is Harvard Medical School, recent stud- nine laboratories set up outside the According to Om Acharya, the lab’s “This is not a competition,” he said. The Nepal Police’s decision also cruel, foolish and condemnable,” ies have shown that around 15 percent Kathmandu Valley until Thursday focal person, the polymerase chain “There is a tendency among the lead- comes amid growing calls that law- Bishnu Rijal, central working commit- of people who are infected show no afternoon. Over 400 specimens—nasal reaction (PCR) machine, which start- ership to announce contributions makers channel the money they get tee member of the ruling party, wrote symptoms. and throat swabs of suspects—were ed testing from last Thursday, mal- from their staff whenever the govern- under the Local Infrastructure on Twitter. “Has the state gone so poor “Both PCR [polymerase chain reac- collected from Jumla, Achham, functioned as the lab technicians have ment sets up a relief fund.” Development Partnership Programme that it has to rely on the salary of tion] tests and rapid blood tests have Darchula and Baitadi, according to been compelled to run a high number Police personnel working in the towards preventive measures against police personnel?” their own limitations,” said Subedee. Devkota. of tests. “We have been working hard but the machine is not helping,” Acharya said. “We haven’t been able to test as many samples as we have aimed to.” The lab on Tuesday sent 15 throat Faced with a lack of cash and employment opportunity, Kalikot swab samples to Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku, Kathmandu, due to machine locals who returned from India brace for an uncertain future failure. The local units do not have a concrete plan yet on how to tackle the mass unemployment that the crisis has created. The machine was

TULARAM PANDEY “Throughout the district, there are only around set up with the fund KALIKOT, APRIL 9 300 families that can produce enough food to sub- sist on for three months,” Kashichandra Baral, provided by the Parajit BK from Palata Rural Municipality in the mayor of Raskot Municipality, said. federal government. Kalikot goes to India for work every year with The influx of returnees from various Indian two of his sons. Last year, the three had returned cities and overseas in the wake of the Covid-19 with Rs70,000 between the three of them. This pandemic has raised concern regarding unem- year, however, they returned with barely Rs12,000. ployment in the district. The PCR machine at the They returned home on February 22 because The local units, however, do not have a con- provincial hospital could test 12 there were no jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic. crete plan yet on how to deal with the problem of samples per day. In the last couple of “The work was just about to take off when the mass unemployment. days, the lab had tested 60 samples. All coronavirus hit,” 51-year-old BK said. Faced with Bam, the chief of Palata Rural Municipality, the results were negative for the a lack of employment opportunities at home, said that the municipal office was planning to coronavirus infection. hundreds of men from Kalikot visit India every employ youths who had recently returned The machine was set up with the year for work. But this year was like no other. from India and other countries in development fund provided by the federal govern- They returned home empty-handed and unsure projects. ment to test all the samples collected how to make ends meet without work. “Once the lockdown is lifted, we will have con- throughout the province. “Jobs in India is the only means of income for struction and drinking water projects up and A ten-member staff, led by microbi- many families here,” said Lakshman Bam, chief running,” he said. “We will prioritise those who ologist Ram Krishna Shrestha, are of Palata Rural Municipality. “Everybody have returned from India while hiring workers working on the test. returned home this year frustrated.” for these projects. This, we hope, would provide Six of them are based in the There are 2,700 households in the rural munic- some relief to them.” lab while four others have been ipality and men from around 2,000 households Likewise, Tilagupha Municipality has plans to deployed to monitor the collection of migrate to India every year in search of jobs, utilise the labour force in agriculture, Mayor swab samples. according to Bam. Ratna Bahadur Shahi said. Acharya said coronavirus testing in More than half of the district’s 23,000 house- “We will subsidise agriculture projects that the province was not progressing at holds are dependent on income earned by their the returnees want to pursue,” Shahi said. “With desired pace even though the health members in India, according to a recent data of this, we want to change the idea that one has to workers and lab technicians were the Poverty Alleviation Fund. POST PHOTO: TULARAM PANDEY move to India for employment.” working hard. Birkha Sejuwal from Banjada has been visit- More than half of the district’s 23,000 households are dependent on money earned by their members in India, BK, however, is cynical that any of the plans “We have been overwhelmed by the ing India to work for over a decade now. He works according to a recent data of the Poverty Alleviation Fund. floated by people’s representatives would actual- sheer number of swab samples we as a door-to-door salesman dealing in garments. ly be implemented. “I know how the local units have been getting daily. If the situa- Like BK, Sejuwal also takes his two sons for “The business took a nosedive as the news of local market only has 80 quintals of rice and 10 work, one has to go through endless hassles to get tion persists and the machine is not the job. While BK managed to return with coronavirus spread,” Sejuwal said. Many villag- quintals of lentils in stock. even a simple thing done,” he said. “ I would be fixed, we will have no option than to Rs12,000, Sejuwal and his sons returned virtually es in Kaliko are already reporting food shortag- Kalikot does not have enough fertile land to surprised if they come up with something that send the samples to Kathmandu for empty-handed. es. Officials at kalikot Municipality estimate the become agriculturally self-sustained. benefits us.” tests,” he said.

C M Y K FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 | 06 MONEY

FOREX OPEC, allies mull US Dollar 122.36 Vegetables to be sold at 11 designated Euro 132.83 output cut after Pound Sterling 151.82 Japanese Yen 11.24 sites as Kalimati bazaar is shuttered price crash Chinese Yuan 17.33 AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Outlets to be opened at Kalanki, Baphal, Swayambhu, Banasthali, Gongabu, Basundhara, VIENNA (AUSTRIA), APRIL 9 Qatari Riyal 33.61

Australian Dollar 76.17 Tinkune, Gopi Krishna, Lainchaur, Ratna Park and Koteshwor. Top crude producers will on Thursday hold a crucial teleconference to dis- Malaysian Ringit 28.22 KRISHANA PRASAIN would not have to travel to Kalimati cuss a possible cut in output after a KATHMANDU, APRIL 9 and mix with crowds and put them- collapse in demand caused by the Saudi Arab Riyal 32.55 selves and others at risk. coronavirus and a damaging Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank The Kalimati vegetable bazaar, which Shrestha said the market receives Saudi-Russia price war caused a crash keeps Kathmandu’s homes supplied 300-450 tonnes of vegetables daily. The in the market. with fresh produce, has pulled down supply has decreased due to the lock- The talks between OPEC and its PRICE PER TOLA the shutters to comply with social dis- down. The market received 280 tonnes allies including Russia (OPEC+) along BULLION tancing rules. The crowds were get- of vegetables on Wednesday, he said. with key non-members is seen as the ting too big, raising contamination Shrestha added that the vegetables best chance to provide some Fine Gold Rs 77,000 worries, said officials. would be sold from the places fixed by much-needed support to prices, which The Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Kathmandu Metropolitan City. This are wallowing around two-decade Silver Rs 720 Market Development Board shut down may help to bring down prices too, he lows. all sales at the country’s largest vege- said. Farmers and suppliers will also The conference, scheduled for 1400 SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA table and fruit market from Thursday be able to sell their products at these GMT on Thursday, is a critical focus after Kathmandu Metropolitan City locations. for investors in a market that remains expressed concern over the large num- The valley’s second largest vegeta- highly volatile, with experts warning GASOLINE WATCH ber of shoppers gathering at close ble market at Balkhu has also barred that without concerted action—expec- quarters. entry of people travelling on foot or by tations are for a 10 million barrel-a- According to Binaya Shrestha, dep- motorcycle. Resham Tamang, admin- day cut—the commodity could suffer uty director of the board, vegetables istrator of the Balkhu Agriculture another painful sell-off. and fruits from the market will be Vegetables Market, said only But hopes are that a deal can be distributed at 11 places fixed by POST FILE PHOTO people travelling by car could enter done. Last week US President Donald Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Vegetables will be sold from the trucks transporting them at the specified locations. the market. Trump claimed Russia and Saudi “The operation system of the mar- According to him, security guards Arabia would step back from their ket has been changed considering the ing for outlets with basic facilities like as sites for the vegetable outlets. The and surveillance cameras monitor the stand-off and agree to slash output. critical and risky situation. The mar- toilets and drinking water. markets will remain open from 2 to 8 market to make sure safety regula- Then OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia ket has transformed its role from that “We are holding discussions about am. Initially, vegetables will be sold tions are being followed. Sellers are called for an urgent meeting of pro- of a wholesaler to that of a distribu- the exact places to operate the market, from the trucks transporting them at required to wear masks and gloves, ducers “to try to reach a fair deal” to tor,” he said, adding that vegetables and we will come to a decision within the specified locations, Dangol said. and use hand sanitisers. “stabilise the oil market” following a arriving at the market would be sold a day or two,” he said. Giving up vegetables for a few days Tamang said that the market phone call between its Crown Prince at various locations in Kathmandu. Officials of the District will not harm anyone, he added. receives 200-250 tonnes of vegetables Mohammed bin Salman and Trump. City authorities decided to close Administration Office and related Shrestha said they had tried vari- daily with shipments becoming small- Saudi Arabia will on Friday host a down the market as there was no agencies met on April 6 and decided to ous methods to prevent crowding er in the past few days. separate virtual gathering of energy checking system while large crowds open outlets for fresh produce at vari- at the Kalimati market, but they did But the available supply is ministers from the Group of 20 major collected and Indian trucks transport- ous places to avoid throngs at not work. It used to open from 2 to 7 sufficient to meet the valley’s economies in a similar bid to ensure ing vegetables were arriving daily, Kalimati. am till Wednesday. requirement with restaurants and “market stability”. said Ishwor Man Dangol, spokesper- Kathmandu Metropolitan City has Retail stores had been closed from hotels closed and many people having Oil prices have slumped since the son for Kathmandu Metropolitan City. designated Kalanki, Baphal, March 29, and motorcycles were not left the valley for their home towns, he beginning of the year as the COVID-19 Potential locations for the vegetable Swayambhu, Banasthali, Gongabu, permitted to enter the premises. City added. Tamang said that shipments pandemic sends the planet into lock- markets have been identified, but they Basundhara, Tinkune, Gopi Krishna, officials said they decided to spread from India stopped arriving several down and brings the global economy have not opened as officials are look- Lainchaur, Ratna Park and Koteshwor out the vegetable outlets so people days ago. to a virtual standstill.

BIZLINE China’s central bank to step up easing, Airbus slashes jet output

Standard Chartered committed to supporting clients and won’t borrow Fed playbook to tackle coronavirus crisis communities globally REUTERS sidering sharp cuts in all models in REUTERS PARIS, APRIL 9 the face of plunging demand, cash BEIJING, APRIL 9 problems at airline customers Airbus announced plans on and logistical difficulties in delivering China’s central bank will ramp up its Wednesday to cut jetliner production aircraft. policy easing to support the coronavi- across the board after the coronavirus Aviation has been hit worldwide by rus-ravaged economy but debt worries epidemic triggered aviation’s worst the pandemic. KATHMANDU: Standard Chartered Bank and property risks will prevent it from industrial crisis and drastically Airbus has experienced particular is committed to supporting our cli- following the US Federal Reserve’s reduced deliveries to cash-starved disruption since France and Spain— ents and the communities in which steep rate cuts or quantitative easing airlines. two of its host nations alongside we operate, both through the current moves, policy sources said. In its largest-ever production Britain and Germany—put popula- pandemic crisis and the longer-term China’s leaders have pledged to adjustment, the European manufac- tions in lockdown after March 17. support and renewal phase. The com- combat the impact from the pandemic turer said it was reducing output of Since then, it has delivered just six pany has put in place a comprehen- that looks to have tipped the world’s its best-selling A320 narrow-body fam- aircraft. Total first-quarter deliveries sive support scheme for retail and second-largest economy into its first ily by a third to 40 aircraft a month. fell 25 percent to 122. business customers including loan quarterly contraction in at least 30 It also cut production of larger Airbus produced a further 60 jets repayment holidays, fee waivers or years, as mounting job losses pose a wide-body jets with the A350 falling that it was unable to deliver because cancellations and loan extension facil- threat to social stability. by about 40 percent to six of the crisis, which has forced many ities among other measures. In Nepal, The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) aircraft a month, and the A330 family airlines to seek postponements and the bank has announced waiver of all will boost credit and lower funding REUTERS down by more than 40 percent to two prevented others from sending teams. fees while using Standard Chartered’s costs, especially for small firms seen People wearing face masks walk past the headquarters of Chinese central bank. aircraft a month, based on the most In some cases, sources say, ATM card in any VISA enabled ATMs as vital for growth and jobs, and recently published Airbus production Airbus has hired private jets to fly in as well as exemption of IPS-ACH accommodate increased fiscal spend- “The PBOC will step up monetary The PBOC is likely to cut the LPR figures. customer pilots as commercial flights charges for online fund transfers. ing, according to three sources policy easing, but it’s impossible for it on April 20, following a 20 basis point Announcing a parallel slowdown in dwindled. Advanced version of Mobile App has involved in internal policy discus- to follow the Federal Reserve,” said cut in the 7-day reverse repo rate on new investments, Chief Executive Although Airbus is cutting the offi- also been launched to enable clients sions. The sources declined to be one of the sources. “The PBOC will March 30, and trim the benchmark Guillaume Faury said the cuts reflect- cial production target of its most-sold to bank conveniently from home. The named due to the sensitivity of the take a step by step approach and deposit rate in the coming months as ed the “new realities” of airlines, model by a third, actual output since updated features include payment of matter. reserve some ammunition.” consumer inflation is expected to ease, whose industry association warned the start of the crisis is lower and utility bills, update of personal infor- The PBOC said on Friday it was The PBOC and the finance ministry the sources said. this week of the loss of 25 million jobs needs to recover in order to reach the mation, remote card block, pin cutting reserve requirement ratio did not immediately respond to The central bank has cut the LPR, dependent on air transport. newly adjusted rate, according to change/activation, card replacement, (RRR) - the amount of cash that banks Reuters’ requests for comment. The which is set on the 20th of each month, “We have no short-term cancella- industry sources. status enquiries, instant fund trans- must hold as reserves - for the third Fed slashed interest rates by a half by a total of 26 basis points since tions in front of us, but we have a lot Airbus has had to pause work at fers etc. The Bank also offers state of time this year, and lowered interest percentage point on March 3 and by a August - when it unveiled a key reform of requests for postponements and several plants to adapt to social-dis- the art digital platforms for corporate rate on banks’ excess reserves for the full point was on March 15, bringing to use the LPR to replace the previous deferrals ... for 2020 and sometimes tancing rules. Since then, it has customers called Straight2Bank and first time since 2008. the Fed’s overnight borrowing rate for benchmark lending rate. The one-year 2021,” Faury told reporters. “That’s struggled to restore previous produc- Virtual Accounts. CEO of Standard The central bank will largely rely banks back to near zero, and restarted LPR rate is currently at 4.05 percent. why we are decreasing our production tion levels due to gaps in the supply Chartered Nepal Anirvan Ghosh on a mix of liquidity policy tools to a quantitative easing programme. A deposit rate cut could help ease rates.” chain, though suppliers say problems Dastidar said, “We, SCB Nepal, support the economy, such as RRR In recent years the PBOC, which pressure on lenders and create more The move, which Airbus said repre- are easing. reflect the passion of all our 500 and various lending facilities, and uses multiple tools to control interest room for lowering lending rates, but sented an average output reduction of Faury warned the aviation industry plus staff who remain determined in price-based tools including various rates and money supply, has been such a move could be politically sensi- a third, came as data showed that would face a different world once the making sure that the Bank is opera- market rates and its benchmark lend- trying to develop a single representa- tive, given that real deposit rates are March deliveries halved to 36 jets. crisis abated and declined to say how tional for our clients in this difficult ing rate - the loan prime rate (LPR), tive policy rate like the Fed’s already deep in negative territory, the Reuters reported last week that long the reduced rates would last. environment.” the sources said. funds rate. sources said. Boeing Co’s European rival was con- Airbus will review them once a month. May is crunch time for US auto suppliers amid coronavirus shutdown

REUTERS say major automakers are still paying fits for people who aren’t working.” DETROIT, APRIL 9 bills, and suppliers received checks The global auto supply chain is recently for goods shipped in February Fiat Chrysler and robust, but automakers can still rely Auto parts maker Kevin Clay landed a and March before factories shut down. Honda Motor Co Ltd on a single supplier for a key series of new contracts from custom- The real crunch for suppliers will part. Automakers and big top-tier sup- ers early this year, and was bullish on come by mid-May. That is when the said they aim to pliers will need to use some of their 2020 after two challenging years. cash backlog runs out unless auto- cash to prop up small but critical sup- “I had the audacity or stupidity to makers are able to restart assembly restart production pliers, industry executives and con- say in January ‘I can’t imagine what lines, industry executives and consult- sultants said. could happen this year that could slow ants said. in early May. Last week transmission maker us down,’” said Clay, president and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV Delphi Technologies Plc identified third-generation owner of Grand (FCA) and Honda Motor Co Ltd said up to 40 suppliers now experiencing Rapids, Michigan-based Pridgeon & this week they aim to gradually smaller companies farther down the financial difficulties, CEO Rick Dauch Clay, which supplies stamped steel and restart production in early May. supply chain. said. stainless steel parts to automakers General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co “If you weren’t strong going into “In two cases we’ve gone in and and which has annual revenue of have not set reopening dates. Some 2020, your challenges are going to be given them some financial assistance, close to $350 million. Asian and European automakers are significant for the balance of the year either by buying their raw materials But now, with much of the United aiming to restart US production later to get yourself back up to speed.” for them or expediting payment to States at a standstill due to the corona- this month. Suppliers like Bob Roth are count- them so they can pay their bills,” virus outbreak, one of the company’s “If the auto industry starts back up ing on a return to work by May. Dauch said. two US plants is idled and the other in early May, most suppliers should be In March, Roth and his staff at BorgWarner Inc last week threat- has a skeleton staff producing parts able to turn the lights back on,” said RoMan Manufacturing took swift ened to walk away from a $951 million for commercial trucks. Pridgeon & Steve Wybo, a senior managing direc- action as the COVID-19 crisis intensi- deal to buy Delphi, after Delphi tapped Clay is juggling pressure from lend- tor at consultant Conway MacKenzie. fied. The Wyoming, Michigan, maker REUTERS its $500 million revolving credit facili- ers, automakers and its own suppliers, “But the longer the shutdown lasts, of transformers for automotive and Bob Roth, CEO of transformer manufacturer RoMan Manufacturing holds a secondary coil for ty to help weather the pandemic with- gambling that automakers can restart the harder it will be for them to get the other industries is classed as an essen- a transformer on the floor of his factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan, US. out its acquirer’s approval. North American production by mid- lights on.” tial business, so it remains busy as Scott Turpin, CEO of North May before the auto parts maker’s Many larger auto suppliers were in demand for robots that use their trans- He is also providing health insur- way to make it in-house. But the part America for Aisin Seiki Co Ltd, the money begins to run out. better shape financially when the formers remains high. ance to workers staying at home to would cost $50 versus the $10 he pays world’s largest transmission maker, “If we weren’t working on special coronavirus shutdowns came than But staying open has come at a cost. take care of their children or cope his supplier—money he cannot recoup said one of his main concerns is how deals with our suppliers, with our they were when the 2008-2009 financial Roth, co-owner and CEO of RoMan, with other health issues. from customers. well suppliers farther down the chain customers and with our banks, then crisis hit. had to raise pay for many of his 150 One of Roth’s critical suppliers in “We’re willing to take the margin conserve cash. the music would stop for us some time But Laurie Harbour, CEO of workers by $7 an hour to compete Pennsylvania is under lockdown due hit now to keep the business moving “Unfortunately there will be some in mid-May, as it will for virtually Harbour Results Inc, a manufacturing against enhanced unemployment ben- to the COVID-19 pandemic. Roth has forward,” Roth said. “But at some suppliers that cannot survive this,” everybody,” Clay said. consulting firm that works with sup- efits included in the recently passed just four to six weeks’ supply of that point in time, we won’t be able to sup- Turpin said. “So we’ve all got to watch Suppliers and restructuring experts pliers, said she is concerned about federal relief package. product and his team has figured out a port higher wages or healthcare bene- that very closely.”

C M Y K 07 | FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 WORLD Pandemic challenges UN peacekeeping operations

AGENCE-FRANCE PRESSE UNITED NATIONS, APRIL 9

With 110,000 peacekeepers deployed in more than a dozen countries around a world now ravaged by the coronavi- rus, the United Nations faces twin challenges: keeping those soldiers safe and, more importantly, persuading governments not to bring them home. One fear is that of a “stampede effect,” in the words of one diplomat. Countries that have contributed peacekeepers “might have a legiti- mate concern to the effect of ‘I am not staying here’ or ‘I am not leaving my men here because if they get infected, they will not be well taken care of,’” the diplomat told AFP. The UN under-secretary general for peacekeeping operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, told AFP Wednesday that as of right now he had not received any requests to withdraw peacekeeping troops because of Covid-19.

Top official: Every possible effort is made to prevent our people from being vectors of contagion. AP/RSS A man on a paddle board takes a dog for a ride at Mordialloc Beach in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, while observing social distancing regulations to help stop the spread of Covid-19. “It is more essential than ever to press on with our collective commit- ment to peace,” he said. Preparing for the arrival of the virus in countries with UN blue-hel- meted soldiers—and so as to avoid spreading the pathogen—on March 6 Biden vs Trump: General Indian court order for the UN stopped rotating its troops in and out of conflict zones where they are trying to keep the peace. This week the UN extended that free testing may hinder new policy through June 30, and it election battle is now set now applies to all countries where UN peacekeepers are deployed. For weeks ASSOCIATED PRESS young people like the Sunrise now, the isolation measures applied WASHINGTON, APRIL 9 Movement and the March For Our fight, experts say around the world for people found to Lives. be infected with the coronavirus are The stage is set for November. Sanders suggested that any now also in force at camps where UN Barring unforeseen disaster, Joe full-throated endorsement of Biden REUTERS soldiers are housed. Precautions have Biden will represent the Democratic would come with strings attached. NEW DELHI, APRIL 9 also been taken with UN patrols so Party against President Donald “We are talking to Joe, and we are India has 5,734 that soldiers do not infect each other Trump this fall, the former vice presi- talking to his team about how we can A decision by the Supreme Court of cases of coronavirus or local people, UN officials say. dent’s place on the general election work together,” he told CBS “Late India to make testing for coronavirus “We are making every possible ballot cemented by Bernie Sanders’ Show” host Stephen Colbert. free places an unfair financial burden and 166 deaths effort to prevent our people from being decision to end his campaign. In a sign of what he hopes will come on medical firms and could see a vectors of contagion,” said Lacroix, Biden likely won’t secure the num- AP/RSS from those talks, Sanders said, “I hope reduction in testing, already among from Covid-19. citing strict hygiene rules and mini- ber of delegates needed to clinch the Joe Biden Donald Trump to be able to work with Joe to move the world’s lowest, said business lead- mal physical contact with locals. nomination until June. But without him in a more progressive direction.” ers and health experts. As Africa—largely spared so far by any Democratic rivals left, a general to the unconventional playbook Trump tried to raise suspicion The concern is that private medical and family welfare, reflecting a jump the pandemic, unlike Europe and the election campaign that will almost Trump used against Hillary Clinton about why Obama had yet to endorse firms, like many businesses in India of 460 cases over Wednesday. On US—awaits a hard hit in the next few certainly be the most expensive and four years ago with unexpectedly dev- Biden, saying: “When is it going to are struggling financially, and could Wednesday, 13,143 samples were tested weeks, the goal now for the UN is to among the nastiest in US history is astating success. happen? Why isn’t he? He knows go under if they tested for free with- nationwide, the government-run keep operating on the continent, such underway. Trump campaign spokesman Tim something that you don’t know.” out financial assistance. Indian Council of Medical Research as in Mali, the Central African “It won’t be easy. Nobody’s confused Murtaugh said Biden will be por- Former presidents typically don’t Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, executive said, well behind the 20,000 people Republic, South Sudan and the about that. But we are ready for the trayed as too liberal for most interject themselves in the primary chairperson of Biocon Limited, one of South Korea has been testing each day Democratic Republic of Congo. general election. We are ready for our Americans, weighed down by ques- process, and Obama had long main- India’s biggest biotech firms, said pri- from its far smaller population. Measures taken against Covid-19 standard-bearer,” Democratic tions about his son’s overseas busi- tained he wouldn’t get involved until a vate institutions could not be expected To beef up the infrastructure for have had an impact on the UN’s peace- National Committee Chairman Tom ness dealings and about questionable nominee had been selected. to operate on credit. screening, the government approved keeping operations, a diplomat said on Perez said. “I’m confident because Joe mental acuity at his age. Brad Biden’s status as the presumptive “Humanitarian in intent but 56 laboratories for testing in addition condition of anonymity. But these Biden’s values reflect the values of the Parscale, Trump’s campaign manager, nominee affords him the freedom to impractical to implement - I fear test- to 136 government-run labs and set a operations must continue, another majority of the American people that predicted Trump would “destroy” move forward more openly with ing will plummet,” Shaw said on price cap of 4,500 Indian rupees diplomat said, predicting “total we can win.” Biden, whom the president and his selecting a running mate. He’s already twitter on Thursday about the court ($59.13) for every test. catastrophe if the operations collapse In Biden and Trump, voters will allies have nicknamed “Sleepy Joe.” started vetting potential vice presi- judgement. The plan is to scale up to 20,000 tests with the departure of UN troops.” choose between two white septuage- Trump’s team also believes he can dents, but he had to tread gently with “These are small businesses they’re in the next few days and eventually to narians with dramatically different win over disaffected Sanders support- Sanders still in the race. providing testing at cost and not profi- 100,000 a day in the worse-case scenar- prescriptions for health care, climate ers who see Biden as a consummate No more. teering. How will they pay their io. But the court decision threatens to change, foreign policy and leadership insider. Shortly after Sanders’ The campaign’s general counsel, employees?” derail the plan to widen testing, in an era of extreme partisanship. announcement Wednesday, the presi- Dana Remus, and an outside adviser, The top court, responding to a pub- said Shamika Ravi, a former member BRIEFING At 77, Biden becomes the oldest dent charged without evidence that Bob Bauer, are leading the early weeks lic interest petition, said on Wednesday of the Indian Prime Minister’s major party presidential nominee in Democratic leaders were plotting of the search process. Bauer served as private medical institutions should be Economic Advisory Council and a modern history. And having spent against Sanders. White House counsel to Obama and is playing a philanthropic role at a time health specialist. Covid-19 cases at 1.47 million, most of his life as an elected official in Before Biden can shift his entire married to Anita Dunn, Biden’s top of national crisis and it would not “We are going to have fewer and death toll crosses 87,700 Washington, no nominee has had focus to Trump, the former vice presi- campaign strategist. allow a situation where India’s poor fewer testing, and that is a very big more experience in government. dent is tasked with winning over Meanwhile, both candidates are could not afford a test for the virus problem right now because that is our SINGAPORE: More than 1.47 million But in Trump, Biden is up against Sanders’ sceptical far-left supporters, staring down the coronavirus pan- that is quickly spreading through the single focus, to increase the testing people have been reported infected by an adversary the likes of which he has who have trashed Biden’s record on demic, which has turned 2020 cam- country. capacity across the country.” the novel coronavirus across the never faced in his decadeslong politi- trade, criminal justice, corporate paign logistics on their head. With It said the issue of reimbursing The health sector like others parts world and 87,760 have died, according cal career. The 73-year-old Republican America and foreign policy. The par- peak infection rates still several weeks these laboratories for running the of the Indian economy is struggling to a Reuters tally. Infections have president opens with a massive cash ty’s most progressive wing also fears away for many parts of the country, hundreds of thousands of tests for and in no position to offer a free ride, been reported in 212 countries and advantage and a well-established will- that Biden’s policies on health care the outbreak and related economic novel coronavirus that the world’s sec- she said. territories since the first cases were ingness to win at any cost. and the environment, among others, devastation will play a major role in ond most populous country urgently “There is a liquidity crunch in identified in China in December 2019. Trump’s campaign is moving for- don’t go far enough. shaping voter attitudes and campaign needs would be considered later on. every business today, including diag- The United States has the highest ward with a multi-pronged attack that Biden advisers note that he had logistics. India has 5,734 cases of coronavirus nostics. People just don’t have the number of cases (429,870) as well as mixes legitimate criticism with base- already begun reaching out to For now, Biden and Trump are effec- and 166 deaths from Covid-19, the res- liquidity to be able to undertake large, deaths (14,730), followed by Spain, less charges and, in some cases, out- Sanders’ aligned progressive organi- tively stuck at home like much of piratory disease caused by the virus, new exercises without any assur- which has reported 14,555 deaths and right conspiracy theories. It’s similar zations, including those focused on America. according to the ministry of health ance,” she said. 146,690 cases.

India,Pakistan locked in border fighting amid crisis NEW DELHI: Indian and Pakistani 103-year-old Italian says ‘courage, faith’ helped beat virus troops in disputed Kashmir are engaged in their most frequent cross-border fighting of at least two ASSOCIATED PRESS she wasn’t going to make it because other residents as she awaits a fol- years. Indian Army data shows 411 ROME, APRIL 9 she was always drowsy and not react- low-up swab test to confirm she is ceasefire violations by Pakistan’s mil- ing,” Furno Marchese said. negative for the virus. She grew up in itary in March, the highest number To recover from the coronavirus, as “One day she opened her eyes again Treviso, in the northeastern Veneto in a single month since at least 2018. she did, Ada Zanusso recommends and resumed doing what she used to region, where she worked for many That compares with 267 violations in courage and faith, the same qualities before,” Furno Marchese said. The years in the textile industry. Zanusso, March last year recorded by the that have served her well in her nearly doctor recalled when Zanusso was who turns 104 on Aug. 16, had four Indian Army. Pakistan’s military had 104 years. able to sit up, then managed to get out children—three of whom are living— recorded 705 ceasefire violations by Italy, along with neighbouring of bed. and has four grandchildren and three the Indian Army since the beginning France, has Europe’s largest popula- What helped her get through the great-grandchildren. of the year. tion of what has been dubbed the illness? “Courage and strength, faith,” “She’s old, but healthy, with no “super old”—people who are at least Zanusso said. It worked for her, so she chronic illness,’’ her doctor said. 100. As the nation with the world’s advises others who fall ill to also “give This week, Milan newspaper Clinton impeachment highest number of Covid-19 deaths, yourself courage, have faith.” Corriere della Sera devoted an entire Italy is looking to its super-old survi- Covid-19 can cause mild or moder- page to the stories of super-old survi- figure dies vors for inspiration. ate symptoms, and most of those who vors, called “healing at 100 years old.” WASHINGTON: Linda Tripp, whose “I’m well, I’m well,” Zanusso said are infected recover. But the elderly The inspirational portraits are a coun- secretly taped conversations with for- Tuesday during a video call with The and those with existing health prob- terpoint to news of large numbers of mer White House intern Monica Associated Press from the Maria lems can be at high risk for more seri- deaths among elderly people living in Lewinsky provided evidence of an Grazia Residence for the elderly in ous illness. Italian nursing homes and other affair with President Bill Clinton that Lessona, a town in the northern The virus has killed nearly 18,000 assisted-living facilities. Of the vic- led to his impeachment, died region of Piedmont. “I watch TV, read people in Italy and over 88,000 world- tims, most elderly weren’t tested for Wednesday. She was 70. Tripp’s the newspapers.” wide. The World Health Organization Covid-19 if they died in nursing death was confirmed by attorney Zanusso wore a protective mask, as says 95 percent of those who have died AP/RSS homes, so the numbers don’t figure Joseph Murtha, but he provided no did her family doctor of 35 years in Europe were over 60 years old. In this photo taken on April 1, 103-year-old Ada Zanusso poses with a nurse at the old into Italy’s overall coronavirus death details. She had been treated for beside her, Carla Furno Marchese, Under Italy’s five-week-long lock- people’s home Maria Grazia in Lessona, northern Italy, after recovering from Covid-19 toll, which is the highest in the world. breast cancer in 2001. Tripp was a who also donned eyewear and a gown down, which is aimed at containing infection. Zanusso says her courage and faith have served her well so far in her life. Medical staff “went through a very 48-year-old divorced mother of that covered her head. the spread of infections that have hard time,’’ said Furno Marchese, the two living in Columbia, Maryland, Asked about her illness, Zanusso is overwhelmed hospitals, visitors aren’t replied. And your three great-grand- announce in the coming days how doctor. “It was a great emergency with when she became a controversial modest: “I had some fever.” allowed at homes for the elderly. Her children? “Watch them play together.” long the lockdown will remain in so many residents ill, so to see a posi- national figure as the Clinton Her doctor said Zanusso was in bed doctor asked Zanusso what she would Deaths, hospitalizations and new place, with expectations that some tive outcome was very rewarding, not impeachment investigation unfolded for a week. “We hydrated her because like to do when “they open the doors.” infections are levelling off in Italy, and restrictions could be eased. only for me, but for all the people who in 1998. (AGENCIES) she wasn’t eating, and then we thought “I’d like to take a lovely walk,” she Premier Giuseppe Conte is expected to For now, Zanusso is isolated from worked hard here nonstop.”

C M Y K FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2020 | 08 CULTURE & ARTS (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 It’s time to get back to books From books that will help understand human civilisation to books that inspire imagination, here are some picks from Nepali writers, poets and bibliophiles.

SRIZU BAJRACHARYA Hari Sharma Ferrante—or read the literature of specif- about love in the time of Corona. something we have gone through in the KATHMANDU ic societies, like China, or Norway, or I would also suggest people read Toya past as well, and these kinds of books tell Sharma is a political scientist and a Tamil Nadu. Gurung’s Kusum; her careful observation about how our societies overcame diffi- usician Frank Zappa’s voracious reader and also runs a podcast My own project involves poetry. I’ve makes her work really beautiful. And culties. I would also recommend people quote, “So many books, Kitab Charcha. long waited for the chance to do a deep Devdutt Pattanaik’s Sita, I loved her read books by Teju Cole, Leo Tolstoy’s so little time”, has so I love reading books, but these are diffi- dive into late 20th century contemporary retelling of the Ramayana from her point War and Peace. Even Shoshan Zuboff ’s often been tossed cult times, and thus, I am also having a poetry. I’ll start by reading two books of view. The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, around as an excuse hard time concentrating. So, I have been closely: The Making of a Poem by Mark which many say they have read, but they for not being able to taking this time to revisit old books, and I Strand and Evan Boland, which focuses haven’t also Thomas Piketty’s books on Mfinish a book. But right now, that is not would suggest people do the same. Or go on different poetic forms; and Ten capitalism. something we can use. We have enough for classics and poems. I have been read- Windows: How Great Poems Transform But if you want to read about Nepal, I time with the lockdown extended for ing a lot of poetry, I think poems help you the World by Jane Hirshfield, which would suggest works of historian Mahesh another week. Yes, it’s an overwhelming in these hard times; they fill you up. examines the themes of poetry and has Chandra Regmi. I enjoyed reading time, but books can be a gratifying diver- But as we all go through a global pan- found particular global resonance. Imperial Gorkha: An Account of Gorkhali sion—if you give them a chance, say bib- demic, I have been going back to books Rule in Kumaun and Kings and Political liophiles. that give an insight into human lives and Leaders of the Gorkhali Empire, 1768- The Post recently spoke to writers, the diseases we have lived through. 1814. They are also available on Martin poets and bibliophiles to find out their Something analytical that gives an under- Chautari’s website. favourite reads and recommendations, standing of the current time. I am read- and to hear how they are coping with the ing Susan Sontag’s Illness as Metaphor Ujjwala Maharjan current times. Help yourself with these and AIDS and Its Metaphors. It’s discur- options to escape the Corona tension and sive writing about illness, how an illness Ujjwala Maharjan is a poet and one of uplift your mood. defines society, the myths around it. the founding members of Word Warriors, a But I would also suggest people get poetry group. Rajan Mukarung back to classics as they survive time, like books by Victor Hugo or Charles Dickens, Mukarung is a writer and novelist, or poems by Wordsworth. known for Damini Bhir, which won him a Madan Puraskar in 2012. A lot of my friends have been telling me that it’s a good time to read. But, to be honest, I am having a hard time concen- trating, with the constant news. But I am sticking to reading poems and light, PHOTO COURTESY: MUNA GURUNG humorous reads. And I would suggest people who want to read to start with CK Lal light books. Lal is a columnist in many dailies, I am currently reading Itar Kavita, a including the Post, and is also the author poetry collection that brings together of Human Rights, Democracy and poems from various ethnic communities; POST FILE PHOTO Governance and To be a Nepalese. however, that’s not yet in the market. I am Muna Gurung I think this is the best time to catch up also re-reading Marxvadi Arthashastra with books that you had meant to read. by Dr Vijay Kumar Poudel; it’s a beautiful Writer and translator, Gurung is also Reading allows you to contemplate, ana- book. It fits the times we are living in, as the founder of KathaSatha. lyse and transports you to different it discusses capitalism and the human I think the best time to read books is worlds, releasing us from our worries. sentiment—issues the pandemic has anytime. And it’s hard for me to pick just I am currently reading books that give brought to the fore again. a few. But if I have to, then I love Justin an understanding of human frailty and But for something lighter, I would sug- Torres’ We the Animals, a novel that is the society. I am re-reading Fyodor gest Upendra Subba’s short story collec- just 125 pages. It feels like reading poetry Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, a tion Lato Pahad, as it will entertain read- and it’s so beautiful, as each chapter book that I keep going back to whenever ers in this rough time. reads like a short story of its own. there is uncertainty and anxiety in the POST FILE PHOTO SCREENSHOT VIA YOUTUBE Another book I would suggest is Buddha community. What we are going through is These days I have been revisiting in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. Naomi Shihab Nye’s 19 Varieties of Manjushree Thapa I also love reading poems; I think they Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East. It was sharpen language as they are so precise published after 9/11 and Nye writes about Thapa is a writer, translator and editor with words. So, I would also recommend the lives of people in the Middle East and and is known for her books All Of Us in Ocean Vuong’s Night Sky With Exit Arab Americans in a way the readers are Our Own Lives; and Forget Kathmandu: Wounds. I also finished reading Sonali able to see them beyond a certain narra- An Elegy for Democracy. Deraniyagala’s Wave, it’s her personal tive. I picked up the poetry collection We’re in for a protracted period of off- account of the tsunami that happened in around the time when people were mak- again, on-again isolation, so this is the Sri-Lanka; it had me in tears. I am now ing a lot of hate speech against the girl perfect time to catch up on reading that reading Claudia Rankine’s The White who tested positive for COVID-19 in Nepal you’ve been wanting to get to but haven’t Card: A Play. I am also now reading and I was very disturbed. But this book, had time for. My main recommendation Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Love in the especially the introduction, helped me would be to read intentionally, following a Time of Cholera, as everyone is talking through it. carefully planned ‘reading project.’ This I have also been blown away by Ocean will offer an additional purpose to your Vuong’s novel, On Earth We’re Briefly reading experience. Gorgeous. I was introduced to Vuong as a That said, each person’s reading pro- It’s an overwhelming poet. This is his first novel, and it’s so ject may differ. Some may want to tackle good. I would also recommend people the classics. (I’ve never read Marcel time, and books read Mary Oliver’s poems, to me her Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past, can be a gratifying poems feel like meditation in words. To and am tempted to read it now.) Others those who want to read poetry but don’t may want to tackle genres they’ve never diversion—if you give know where to start, they can read poems tried. (Sci-fi, anyone?) Yet others may in poetryfoundation.org. I discovered want to read all of the books of one par- them a chance. many of my favourite poets like Maya POST PHOTO: HRITIK SHRESTHA ticular author—I’d recommend Elena POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA Angelou through this website. HEALTH & LIVING Six common Covid-19 myths busted

POST REPORT infection. KATHMANDU Wearing a mask and The world is grappling with gloves is enough for pre- the Covid-19 pandemic. vention News about growing num- Wearing a mask is essen- ber of deaths and infections tial when you are going out have raised fear and anxiety for urgent work, but sanitis- among many. At such a ing and washing your hands time, the internet is flooded regularly is also extremely with ways you can keep the important. Washing your coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 hands for 20 seconds every at bay. And the worst thing two hours—if you do not have you can do at this time is access to soap and water, use consume and spread infor- sanitiser frequently. mation without verifying it. Dr Subodh Dhakal, chief of If you get infected by a chest, critical care and sleep coronavirus, you will die medicine at Kathmandu Based on current data, Medical College, debunks the mortality rate for Covid- some of the myths sur- 19 differs from country to rounding the Covid-19. country—ranging from 1 to 6 percent. We have seen that Gargling with warm patients with pre-existing saline water will prevent conditions such as kidney infection or respiratory diseases, dia- Rinsing and gargling a betes or cardiovascular dis- salt solution won’t prevent eases have higher mortality one from being infected rates. with Covid-19. What it will do, however, is it will help Sunbathing and taking draw excess fluid from hot showers will do the inflamed tissue in the trick throat, which may help No. The best way to min- with a sore throat. imise your chances of get- ting infected by Covi-19 is Drinking ginger and by remaining indoors. honey water will help Lockdowns have proven to fight the virus be the most effective Ginger and honey water approach to curbing the provides relief when your spread of the infection. So throat is congested. There is each and every one of us no evidence it prevents one must remain indoors and from contracting Covid-19. go out only for urgent mat- ters. If you are going out, Flushing your nasal make sure you wear a passageway with salt mask. Regular exercise and water will protect you yoga along with supple- What salt solution does is mental vitamin C (found help moisturise the nasal abundantly in citrus fruit) passageway and flushes out have also proven to be ben- mucus and allergens. eficial for health and well- However, that is all. It being—not as a cure-all for does not prevent Covid-19 coronavirus, however.

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