WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 38 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 33.5 C 3.0 C Friday, March 27, 2020 | 14-12-2076 Dhangadi Jumla Special note from the publisher Contact tracing of all The Covide-19 pandemic has taken the world by storm, and it has made its way to Nepal. Though the virus has not spread in Nepal on as large a scale as it has in other countries, we are well aware that it who got close with could quickly turn into a large crisis. In light of the current situa- tion, Kantipur Media Group, which has always been at the forefront of journalism for the people, has taken some crucial decisions that we would like to share with our readers. Covid-19 patients First, the well-being of our readers, fellow workers and the gener- al public is our prime concern. Kantipur Media Group has always placed its responsibility towards the people, society and the country at the heart of its activities. Even in today’s unusual situation, our correspondents and photojournalists are out in the field, ensuring continues but time is that we keep our readers informed while our staff at the printing press have been working gruelling night shifts to make sure papers are printed. Our staff along the distribution chain and our dealers are, as always, delivering the news to our readers’ doorsteps. fast running out Although we would like our papers to be delivered to you in the early hours of the morning, we realise that we cannot compromise on the safety and security of our staff. To protect them from possible Authorities have traced just 11 of the more than 15 infections, we arranged for masks, gloves and sanitisers, along with other protective measures. But despite that, we cannot ignore the people the third Covid-19 patient came into contact possibility that they might get infected while they are out in the field. The safety of our staff is our first responsibility. with, but none has been tested yet. Second, all these measures are being taken to ensure that we abide by our duty to keep the readers informed with accurate news ARJUN POUDEL “We found that the man first stayed and information. But many of our readers and well-wishers have KATHMANDU, MARCH 26 in a single room and then shifted to a drawn our attention to the possible spread of the virus through the double room,” Dr Basudev Pandey, newspaper. So far, we have not found any evidence that the coronavi- Authorities have said that they have director of the Epidemiology and rus spread through newspapers, but we are not in a position to managed to get in touch with 11 of the Disease Control Division, told the Post. assert that there is no such risk. Our primary concern is to ensure at least 15 individuals who had come “Our health workers have been working the safety and well-being of our readers. in close contact with the third Nepali to contact all the people, including the Third, the government has enforced a nationwide lockdown, national infected with Covid-19. owner of the hotel and his wife, who restricting people’s movement. Members of the public have extend- The Health Ministry said on came in contact with the patient.” ed their support, and it has also become our responsibility to con- Wednesday that a 32-year-old Nepali According to Pandey, health work- tribute to a measure enacted to prevent the spread of a disease. We man who had returned from Sharjah ers have been assigned to reach out to are thus in a difficult situation. While we have the responsibility to of the United Arab Emirates on all the people who came in contact keep the general public informed by ensuring that they get newspa- March 19 had tested positive for the with the man at the hotel as well as pers delivered to their homes, it’s also our duty to support initiatives coronavirus. those who travelled with him on the aimed at controlling the spread of the virus. The man, who hails from Dhading Air Arabia flight from Dubai to Taking the government’s announcement, our staff ’s wellbeing district, had stayed in a hotel in Kathmandu. Officials have said there and the general public’s concerns into consideration, we have Kathmandu and gone to the Sukraraj were 133 passengers in the plane. arrived at a harsh but necessary conclusion. Tropical and Infectious Disease Authorities, however, have yet to We have decided to suspend publication and distribution of The Hospital in Teku on Monday night trace passengers from the Air Kathmandu Post, Kantipur, Nepal, Nari and Saptahik for a few days, after coming down with a fever, chest Arabia flight and the Qatar Airways beginning Saturday. We will follow the unfolding circumstances on pain and a sore throat. The National flight that the second Covid-19 patient a daily basis and whenever the situation eases, our publications will Public Health Laboratory confirmed travelled on. A 19-year-old Nepali stu- reach your doorsteps and the nearest newstands. Our regular sub- on Tuesday night that he had tested dent returning from France via Doha scribers will have their subscription period extended accordingly. positive for the virus. had tested positive for Covid-19 on Our readers are all well aware of the fact that we have never An official at the Health Ministry Sunday night. She is also being treat- stepped back in the past, no matter how difficult the situation. said that the man had come in contact ed at the Teku hospital. Of the 158 Journalism is not a profession to shirk responsibility during trying POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI with at least 15 people at the hotel as passengers in the Qatar Airways times. In the past, we have always practised dynamic and meaning- A pharmacist sells drugs to a buyer through the store’s closed gate on the third day of the nationwide he had invited several friends to have flight, 125 were Nepalis. ful journalism--be it during the times of civil war or when the king lockdown amid concerns over the spread of Covid-19, in Lalitpur on Thursday. dinner with him. >> Continued on page 4 assumed absolute power. Kantipur Media Group has always stood against all kinds of oppression and obstacles. We never hesitated to break curfew or prohibitory orders to make sure that our papers reached the hands of our readers. And in this regard, our readers have always been our source of inspiration. But today’s pandemic is of such a nature that it demands physical distance--even between the hands. The more ‘physical distancing’ there is, the lower the chance of mass infection. Today, we have been compelled to maintain a temporary distance between our newspa- pers and our readers. As far as our responsibility of doing journalism is concerned, we remain committed. Our print editions might be temporarily sus- pended, but we have powerful digital tools with us. We will continue to disseminate the news, views, information, analysis, interviews, photos and videos through kathmandupost.com and ekantipur.com. The two other arms of Kantipur Media Group—Kantipur TV and Kantipur FM—will continue to be at your service. Ties between Kantipur Media Group and our readers are very strong and they cannot be broken by the sudden surge of a certain virus. We extend our apologies for the inconvenience caused to you due to this decision we have been forced to take. The present crisis OPINION | 05 can be averted and defeated only by staying home and maintaining physical distance with individuals and objects. We hope all our read- A wake up call ers will play their part in helping overcome this global crisis. Kailash Sirohiya Chairman and Managing Director Kantipur Media Group Half a dozen countries seek permission to evacuate their citizens from Nepal Embassies have asked for permission for chartered flights to take their citizens home as many tourists are having difficulties finding food and supplies during the lockdown. SANGAM PRASAIN Other countries are likely to follow foreigners are currently in Nepal is KATHMANDU, MARCH 26 suit, as a Wednesday meeting of the unavailable, the Nepal Tourism Board, high-level coordination committee the country’s tourism promotion body, Half a dozen countries are currently headed by Deputy Prime Minister has estimated that there could be in the process of evacuating their citi- Ishwar Pokhrel decided to also allow around 2,000 individuals, including zens from Nepal as concerns over the foreign countries to evacuate their some 300 in various trekking areas. spread of the Covid-19 continue to citizens from Nepal. The figure excludes foreigners work- grow. The United States, United “Based on the committee’s decision, ing in diplomatic missions, embassies Kingdom, Germany, Australia, India, we have permitted Germany to take and INGOs/NGOs. China and South Korea are among its citizens home on special charter The government on Tuesday countries that are applying for per- flights,” said Acharya. imposed a week-long lockdown across mission from the Ministry of Foreign The ministry has granted permis- the country to prevent the spread of Affairs to bring in chartered flights sion for two flights on Friday and Covid-19, halting all flights and vehic- that will be used to fly back their citi- Saturday, he said, and that flight ular movements, except for during zens. arrangements had been made via emergencies, across the country. The On Thursday, the Ministry of Qatar Airways.