KATHMANDU: The government of Nepal has resumed flights to limited destinations, out of regular flights that were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the government’s decision to open limited regular flights to Turkey, China and Qatar, flights to Doha have started from Monday.
Due to the increasing risk of coronavirus infection, regular flights to destinations other than India were suspended from May 6. There are two flights a week to New Delhi.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), which has allowed one flight in a week to Istanbul from May 3, has allowed two flights to Doha. Qatar Airways and Nepal Airlines will operate one flight each to Kathmandu-Doha every Monday.
Despite the demand to open regular flights to destinations where Nepalis go for foreign employment, the government has now opened it only for Qatar. According to the authority, Saudi Arabia has a flight ban and other destinations are not comfortable.
According to CAAN, Nepalis from other countries will also be able to come through Qatar.
Rules to follow
One of the minimum rules for coming to Nepal from abroad is the RT-PCR report (including photo and barcode) that the coronavirus test is negative, including quarantine at one’s own expense after coming to Nepal.
- The RT-PCR report with the last 72 hours of photo and barcode / QR code needs to be COVID-19 negative.
- After coming to Nepal, passengers have to stay in the hotel quarantine for 10 days. For those who have gone for foreign employment, quarantine is only of five days. For this, those who have gone for foreign employment have to show five days hotel booking and others have to show 10 days booking.
- After staying in the hotel quarantine for ten days, the passenger have to test the coronavirus at their own expense. If the Covid-19 report is positive, it is mandatory to stay in the isolation center or hospital or hotel isolation designated by Covid-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) for at least 10 days.
- Passengers will be able to go home after receiving a negative report from the quarantine.
- CCMC will monitor arrangements regarding quarantine, arrange treatment for the sick person in the hotel quarantine, and facilitate the person who has completed the 10 day hotel quarantine to go to the destination.
- Those who come to Nepal from abroad to attend the funeral of a relative do not have to stay in the hotel quarantine. They will be able to stay at home for 10 days on the basis of local level recommendations.
- In the case of attendees who came with the patient, they will be allowed to stay at home for at least 10 days based on the documents confirming the incident from the hospital and the recommendation of the local level.
- In the case of senior citizens above 75 years of age, minors under 5 years of age and mothers and fathers accompanying minors, they will be able to stay at home / destination for at least 10 days based on the recommendation of the local level.
- Local administration and CCMC will facilitate transportation from airport to hotel, from hotel to destination. The cost will be borne by the passengers.
