Chief District Officers of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur on Tuesday decided to issue prohibitory orders in the three districts of the valley.

The restrictions in movement of people and vehicles will come into effect from midnight Wednesday and are aimed at discouraging unwarranted people’s movement in order to control the increasing spread of COVID-19 in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.

Movement of all vehicles except those providing emergency services will be halted, according to the notice issued by the District Administration Office (DAO).

The government on Tuesday had decided to accord discretionary powers to Chief District Officers do decide on imposition of prohibitory orders or curfew if needed to contain the spread of the pandemic.

The orders will remain in force for seven days until August 26 midnight.

Kathmandu Valley has witnessed a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases over the last few days, especially after the four-month-long lockdown was lifted on July 21.

On Tuesday alone, 205 persons were infected within the Valley in the last 24 hours–138 in Kathmandu, 50 in Lalitpur and 17 in Bhaktapur, making it the highest single day rise of positive cases in the Valley.

According to the notice published by DAO, people will not be allowed to go out of their homes except to buy medicines, foodstuff and other essential goods and services.

All businesses except those selling essential goods and services will have to remain shut, and all private and public vehicles will have to stay off the roads.

Vehicles transporting essential goods like medicines, foodstuff, fuel, cooking gas, vegetables, fruits and milk will be allowed to operate.

Similarly, essential services like electricity, telecommunications, information and communications, garbage collection, customs, quarantine, isolation, health and funeral are allowed.

All academic institutions including tuition centres and language institutes must remain closed.