Nepal extends lockdown until May 7 to contain COVID-19

The Nepali government decided to extend the nationwide lockdown until May 7 to contain the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

The cabinet meeting held on Sunday decided to extend the lockdown by 10 days. The country is in lockdown since March 24, reported Xinhua news agency.

The government has also decided to continue restricting movement through border points of the country. Yubaraj Khatiwada, spokesperson of the government of Nepal said, "The border of Nepal will remain closed until May 13."

A high-level coordination committee formed by the government for the prevention and control of COVID-19 recommended the expansion by a week in a meeting on Saturday, which also concluded to suspend domestic and international flights in the Nepali sky until May 15.

Nepal now has 52 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which three were reported on Sunday.

According to the country's Ministry of Health and Population, 16 people have recovered while 36 are receiving treatment in isolation in different hospitals of the country.