This undated image shows security personnel wearing personal protective equipment at the security checkpoint at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. Photo: RSS

The government has issued a list of hotels that can be used as quarantine facility by foreign tourists as well as Nepalis arriving in the country. The Department of Tourism has listed 78 hotels including seven five star hotels that can be booked for quarantine facility. It is mandatory for those arriving from abroad to stay in hotel quarantine. The government on May 2 made it mandatory to keep travellers arriving from India according to the air bubble facility in 10-day hotel quarantine, in order to prevent coronavirus transmission and to ensure that the incoming travellers are not iinfected.

Meanwhile, the government has allowed the operation of international flights to Turkey, Qatar, China and India from June 1.

Likewise, the DoT has also set the minimum standard for the hotels to be used as quarantine.

Previously, the government had chosen eight hotels for the purpose of quarantine for Indian tourists.

As per requirement, a hotel should have at least 20 rooms and a compound having a lawn and open space enough and an extra entrance gate. Likewise, the hotel should have the facility for meals, drinking water logistic support, and open space for conducting swab specimen collection. The DoT has made it mandatory for a hotel to have television sets and internet wifi in the hotel. Likewise, each room should have an attached toilet and the facility of hot drinking water. Moreover, every hotel should arrange soap and water as well as hand sanitisers at the entrance.

It has been made mandatory for a hotel to shut down the services like the common dining hall, buffet, gym, sauna, indoor and outdoor game facility. Soaps, toothpaste, toothbrush, hand wash and towel enough for a week should be placed in each room of the hotel. 

The hotels chosen for the quarantine facility includes seven 5 Star hotels; three 4-star hotels; seven 3-star hotels; 51 tourist-standard hotels; two resorts and eight hotels that have been previously chosen for quarantine facility.

Likewise, the DoT has fixed Rs 3,000 per person with three meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner — in non-star hotels while the star category hotels can charge as per their hotel policy, the DoT informed.

Any hotels not adhering to the Hotel Quarantine Rules shall be penalised as per the infectious Disease Act 2020.