Kathmandu, Sept. 9 -- Until vaccines and therapies are available, we in Nepal like everywhere else in the world, have to learn to live with this scourge. Extending the lockdown is not the answer unless other measures such as mass testing and sero-prevalence surveys are done.

Which is why good sense has prevailed and the CDOs of Kathmandu Valley met at the Home Ministry on Wednesday and decided to besmarter about the lockdown,allowing people greater freedom and asking them to take necessary precautions to remain safe.

From Thursday, odd-even number vehicles will be allowed back on the roads, including bigger size public buses. Provisions shops will be allowed to be open from 5-11AM, and 5-7PM. Restaurants will also be allowed to do takea...