Participants sit apart during a cabinet meeting in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, March 29, 2020. As the number of the COVID-19 cases keeps rising in Nepal, the Nepali government on Sunday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown by eight days. The country has been enforcing lockdown since last Tuesday, halting the movement of people along with vehicles and airplanes as well as closing most of the shops except those selling essential items. (Office of Prime Minister/Handout via Xinhua)

As the number of the COVID-19 cases keeps rising in Nepal, the Nepali government on Sunday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown by eight days.

The country has been enforcing lockdown since last Tuesday, halting the movement of people along with vehicles and airplanes as well as closing most of the shops except those selling essential items.

"The cabinet on Sunday decided to extend the lockdown until April 7 mid-night," Finance Minister and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Yubaraj Khatiwada told Nepal Television, state-owned television after a cabinet meeting on Sunday night.

During the lockdown, no one can go out of home except those who have to purchase essential food items and those who should get medical treatment during the lockdown period. All the public and private vehicles cannot move in the street. Only the approved vehicles and the vehicles meant for health workers and security agencies can ply on the road.

Nepal has now five confirmed COVID-19 cases. According to Nepal's Health Ministry, it has so far tested 917 samples and 912 were tested negative.

Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli attends a cabinet meeting in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, March 29, 2020. As the number of the COVID-19 cases keeps rising in Nepal, the Nepali government on Sunday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown by eight days. The country has been enforcing lockdown since last Tuesday, halting the movement of people along with vehicles and airplanes as well as closing most of the shops except those selling essential items. (Office of Prime Minister/Handout via Xinhua)

A man with a face mask is seen in Bhaktapur, outskirts of capital Kathmandu, Nepal, March 30, 2020. As the number of the COVID-19 cases keeps rising in Nepal, the Nepali government on Sunday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown by eight days. The country has been enforcing lockdown since last Tuesday, halting the movement of people along with vehicles and airplanes as well as closing most of the shops except those selling essential items. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma)

A policeman interrogates a motorbike rider in Bhaktapur, outskirts of capital Kathmandu, Nepal, March 30, 2020. As the number of the COVID-19 cases keeps rising in Nepal, the Nepali government on Sunday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown by eight days. The country has been enforcing lockdown since last Tuesday, halting the movement of people along with vehicles and airplanes as well as closing most of the shops except those selling essential items. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma)

A woman wearing a mask offers a prayer at the premises of UNESCO world heritage site Bhaktapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal on March 30, 2020. As the number of the COVID-19 cases keeps rising in Nepal, the Nepali government on Sunday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown by eight days. The country has been enforcing lockdown since last Tuesday, halting the movement of people along with vehicles and airplanes as well as closing most of the shops except those selling essential items. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

A worker wearing protective equipment cleans the premises of UNESCO world heritage site Bhaktapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal on March 30, 2020. As the number of the COVID-19 cases keeps rising in Nepal, the Nepali government on Sunday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown by eight days. The country has been enforcing lockdown since last Tuesday, halting the movement of people along with vehicles and airplanes as well as closing most of the shops except those selling essential items. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

A worker wearing protective equipment cleans the premises of UNESCO world heritage site Bhaktapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal on March 30, 2020.  As the number of the COVID-19 cases keeps rising in Nepal, the Nepali government on Sunday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown by eight days. The country has been enforcing lockdown since last Tuesday, halting the movement of people along with vehicles and airplanes as well as closing most of the shops except those selling essential items.(Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

A woman wearing a mask is pictured early morning at the premises of UNESCO world heritage site Bhaktapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal on March 30, 2020. As the number of the COVID-19 cases keeps rising in Nepal, the Nepali government on Sunday decided to extend the ongoing lockdown by eight days. The country has been enforcing lockdown since last Tuesday, halting the movement of people along with vehicles and airplanes as well as closing most of the shops except those selling essential items. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)