Nepal: Locals protest against govt's decision to keep Coronavirus evacuees near them

Locals of Bhaktapur province of Nepal have started protesting against government’s decision to quarantine evacuees from Coronavirus-hit Wuhan near human settlements. local residents of Bhaktapur are of opinion that proposed isolation centre, where evacuees will be kept under quarantine, is extremely close to human settlements and fear that y would also get infected from dely virus due to close proximity.

Bimala Tamang, one of protesters told ANI that government should lodge evacuees in vacant hospitals or reserve hotels if that’s t possible. “We won't accept it. If y only care for about 180 citizens n y should get rid of us," said Tamang. At least 1,113 people have died to epidemic and more than 44,000 cases have been detected globally.

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Though government has t declared evacuation date, process of evacuation has alrey started and 180 Nepalis living in Hubei province of China have submitted application for it. Apart from locals, elected representatives from Bhaktapur district have raised ir voice against proposed plan at a parliamentary meeting.

“Such kind of quarantines should t be kept in middle of a densely populated area. It should be kept far away from residential areas as per standards of WHO. I would like to attract attention of government over issue," said Prem Suwal, an elected representative from Bhaktapur during session.

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'Grave threat for world'

World Health Organisation (WHO) chief has called coronavirus outbreak ‘a very grave threat’ for rest of world even if 99 per cent of cases remain restricted to mainland China. WHO Director-General Tedros ham Ghebreyesus h said that transmission among people with travel history to China could be 'tip of iceberg'. A leing public health epidemiologist from Hong Kong reportedly warned that around two-thirds of world’s population could get infected by new Coronavirus in case it can t be controlled.

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(With ANI inputs)