Kathmandu: The Nepalese government has appealed to the people not to leave their homes unless it was urgent. It also urged the general public not to organise cultural or religions gatherings of more than 25 people at locations such as banquet halls and temples.

A meeting of the high-level coordination committee for the prevention and control of coronavirus this afternoon decided to shut down cinema halls, cultural centres, stadiums, gyms, health clubs, museums, swimming pools, recreational places and dance bars until April 30.

The government has urged public vehicle operators not to carry passengers exceeding the number of seats and also urged people not to get into crowded vehicles.

The government will take immediate action against those involved in creating artificial shortages, hoarding, black marketeering or other market anomalies. It has also urged people not to purchase daily essential commodities in excess.

As far as international passenger movement is concerned, the government has imposed ban on travellers originating from or getting transit in all European, West Asian and Gulf countries, including Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan, from March 20 till April 15.