Nepal on Friday reported one more Covid-19 related death and 448 new cases.
“The swab samples of a 57-year-old man, who had died on Wednesday morning, in Arghakhanchi district tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday,” said spokesperson Dr Jageshwor Gautam during a regular press briefing by the Health Ministry. “He died on his way back home, at a place named kadre Khola, after being discharged from Lumbini Provincial Hospital in Butwal where he had received treatment for breathing problems.”
The victim’s swab samples were collected post his death. “A polymerase chain reaction test conducted on the swab samples at Provincial Public Health Laboratory in Bhairawaha came positive for Covid-19 on June 11,” said Gautam.
With the latest fatality, the Covid-19 death tally has now reached 16.
Meanwhile, with 448 new cases, the highest Covid-19 cases in a single day so far, the national tally has surged to 5,062.
“Samples of 86 individual from Rautahat, 57 from Sarlahi, 45 from Surkhet, 38 from Dailekh, 29 from Dhading, 22 from Syangja, 17 from Saptari, 16 each from Rupandehi and Mahottari, 15 each from Bardiya and Dhanusa, 13 each from Parbat and Jhapa, 11 from Siraha, 10 from Sunsari, eight each from Dang and Chitwan, five from Nawalparasi (East), four from Kapilvastu, three each from Morang and Udayapur, two each from Nawalparasi (West), Argakhhanchi and Pyuthan and once each from Nuwakot, Bara, Kathmandu, Palpa, Gulmi, Banke, Tanahun and Ilam, tested at various labs across the country came positive for the virus,” said Gautam.
According to the ministry, people from 72 districts have now contracted the coronavirus. Manang, Mustang, Okhaldhunga, Rasuwa and Rukum (West) have not witnessed any cases so far.
Kapilvastu has so far reported 623 cases, the highest for a district, followed by Rautahat with 622 cases while Sarlahi has reported 476 cases.
Similarly, 479 cases have been reported in Dailekh; Banke has recorded 297, Rupandehi has recorded 186 cases and Dhanusa and Mahottari have so far reported 179 cases.
“So far, 121,862 polymerase chain reaction tests and 188,052 rapid diagnostic tests have been carried out across the country,” said Gautam.
According to Gautam, 877 people have been discharged from various hospitals after recovering.
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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