Doctors say that contact tracing and tests will be ineffective if Covid-19 spills over to the wider community.

Doctors say remote counselling is not accessible to those patients living in small towns and villages of Nepal.

Doctors say Valley authorities have failed to make it clear on what basis they are taking decisions, as restrictions for the past three weeks have largely been ineffective and Covid-19 cases have continued to soar.

Lack of public transportation and conversion of nutrition rehabilitation centres into living quarters for health workers during the pandemic are given as reasons for halt in services.

Just extending curbs is not helping contain the virus spread as nearly two-thirds of the cases so far were detected during two weeks of prohibitory orders, health experts say.

As over 800 health workers, including more than 200 doctors have been infected with coronavirus, public health experts warn of a catastrophe if health workers are not protected.

Chief district officers of the Valley, who are authorised to take steps to contain the virus spread, are not sure of the next move as curbs imposed since August 19 midnight end Wednesday midnight.

The mass testing, or seroprevalence survey, can provide estimation on the percentage of people in a population with antibodies against SARS-Cov-2, which causes Covid-19.

Given lack of facilities at home for self-isolation for a majority of Nepalis, encouraging them to stay home after testing positive for Covid-19 could spell a disaster.

With the system overwhelmed, infected not being tested later to prove they are virus-free and told to continue in home isolation and cases rising, Covid-19 threat is increasing, experts say.

Doctors say attributing coronavirus-related deaths simply to pre-existing and underlying conditions is akin to refusing to accept the threat of the virus which has penetrated society.

Authorities are still not following the basics–ensuring effective contact tracing, isolating the infected, listening to experts and having dedicated Covid-19 health facilities.

More health workers not involved in treating Covid-19 patients are getting infected with the coronavirus due to the lack of enough personal protective equipment.

China, Russia and UK’s Oxford University Group have shown interest to perform Phase III clinical trials in Nepal.

While the government response to the virus has not been up to the mark, it has also failed to ensure risk communication and make the public aware of the disease in a proper way, doctors say.