On March 25, the National Public Health Laboratory reported that a third person had tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the country. With this news, bringing the total number of known active cases to two within a few days, Nepal remains on high alert. The lockdown has been enforced on a stricter bearing all over the country. Some cases of police aggression and brutality have also been reported and shared on social media. In light of such moves, many have been lauding the federal government for a successful clampdown.

But the celebrations are a bit premature. For one, Nepal lacks the necessary resources to successfully test all the people that may have been exposed to the virus via the two active vectors. While much had been touted of the over 500 tests administered by the government initially, with zero testing positive then, it has come to light that the government has not even tested all the passengers who had flown in on the two flights that brought in the two confirmed cases. In fact, over the two days since the first case was confirmed, the government had only tested a further 77 samples; whereas the first and second patients came on flights from France (via Qatar) and the UAE, along with hundreds of other passengers.

For another, the government has not been able to provide enough personal protective equipment (PPE) to all medical workers that are expected to fight against the disease. Let alone all provincial hospitals being equipped with the necessary PPE so that health workers may carry out their duties without fear, it seems that Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku—the hospital with the most resources and ability to handle infectious disease cases—also does not seem to have the necessary protective equipment in enough numbers.

Added to this, and perhaps the most damaging of all, is the knowledge that the federal Health Ministry seems to have held back information on the confirmed cases from medical workers and public health officials. Specifically, even Shukraraj’s director and doctors, and officials with the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, seem to have been informed of the second case being confirmed positive only 14 hours after the Health Minister was informed. In fact, doctors at Shukraraj vented how they found out about the second case through the media before the news came in through official government channels.

This is a travesty. That the people leading the frontlines against Covid-19 are kept in the dark and left unprotected does not spell well for the efforts to fight a viral disaster. The need of the hour is complete protection of the people working in healthcare and public health; if such people succumb to the disease or become incapacitated, there won’t be anyone left to treat the rest of us. Moreover, medical workers have a high chance of becoming in contact with the disease. Even if they do not develop any symptoms, medical workers may transfer the virus to their loved ones, who in turn may spread it further.

To successfully protect the whole of society, medical workers need to be protected with the necessary equipment. They also need to be kept informed of all developments—any misinformation or lack of information may have disastrous consequences. What is not needed, however, are ill-informed remarks such as those made by Health Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal at the press conference announcing the second case to the public. Not only was the physical conference entirely unnecessary, given the current circumstances, but Dhakal’s illogical remarks against medical workers is definitely not helpful.