Nepal’s Covid-19 tally reaches 4,364 with 279 new cases on Wednesday
Rautahat reported the highest number of cases in the last 24 hours with 53 new infections, according to the Health Ministry. The federal government is said to have spent Rs 6.03 billion combating the pandemic. Shutterstock
The number of Covid-19 cases in the country has reached 4,364 with the Health Ministry confirming 279 new cases on Wednesday.
In a regular press briefing on Wednesday, Dr Jageshwor Gautam, the ministry spokesperson, said that Rautahat had reported the highest infections in the last 24 hours with 53 cases.
“Samples of 48 individuals from Kapilvastu, 27 from Sarlahi, 25 from Dailekh, 16 from Dhading, 12 each from Palpa and Kailali, and 11 from Dhanusa tested positive during tests conducted at different labs across the country,” said Gautam.
“Similarly, nine cases from Surkhet, eight from Morang, seven from Rupandehi, six each from Pyuthan and Saptari, five each from Jhapa and Nawalparasi (West), four each from Udaypur and Gorkha, three each from Banke, Nawalparasi (East) and Jajarkot, two each from Chitwan, Kanchanpur and Sindhupalchowk and one each from Bardiya, Darchula, Dadeldhura, Nuwakot, Achham and Siraha also tested positive,” he said.
According to the ministry, people from 72 districts have now contracted the coronavirus.
Kapilvastu has so far reported 617 cases, the highest for a district, followed by Rautahat with 479 cases while 417 cases have been reported in Sarlahi.
Similarly, Dailekh has reported 393 cases; Banke has recorded 283, Mahottari has recorded 159 cases and Dhanusa has so far reported 164 cases.
“So far, 110,744 polymerase chain reaction tests and 172,880 rapid diagnostic tests have been carried out across the country,” said Gautam.
According to Gautam, 674 people have been discharged from various hospitals after recovering with 90 people discharged in the last 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus outbreak
UPDATED as of September 22, 2020
What is Covid-19? Covid-19, short for coronavirus disease, is an illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, short for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
How contagious is Covid-19? Covid-19 can spread easily from person to person, especially in enclosed spaces. The virus can travel through the air in respiratory droplets produced when a sick person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. As the virus can also survive on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours, any contact with such surfaces can also spread the virus. Symptoms take between two to 14 days to appear, during which time the carrier is believed to be contagious.
Where did the virus come from? The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that is responsible for everything from the common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). After an initial outbreak in Wuhan that spread across Hubei province, eventually infecting over 80,000 and killing more than 3,000, new infection rates in mainland China have dropped. However, the disease has since spread across the world at an alarming rate.
What is the current status of Covid-19?
The World Health Organisation has called the ongoing outbreak a “pandemic” and urged countries across the world to take precautionary measures. Covid-19 has spread to 213 countries and territoriesaround the world and infected more than 31,405,983 people with 967,505 deaths and 22,990,260 recoveries. In South Asia, India has reported the highest number of infections at 5,557,573 with 88,943 deaths. While Pakistan has reported 306,304 confirmed cases with 6,420 deaths. Nepal has so far reported 65,276 cases with 427 deaths.
How dangerous is the disease?
The mortality rate for Covid-19 is estimated to be 3.6 percent, but new studies have put the rate slightly higher at 5.7 percent. Although Covid-19 is not too dangerous to young healthy people, older individuals and those with immune-compromised systems are at greater risk of death. People with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, or those who’ve recently undergone serious medical procedures, are also at risk.
How do I keep myself safe? The WHO advises that the most important thing you can do is wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol content. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands. Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces like your computers and phones. Avoid large crowds of people. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist for longer than a few days.
Is it time to panic?
No. The government has imposed a lockdown to limit the spread of the virus. There is no need to begin stockpiling food, cooking gas or hand sanitizers. However, it is always prudent to take sensible precautions like the ones identified above.
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