One more Covid-19 related death and 109 new cases take Nepal’s tally to 18,483
According to the Ministry of Health, a 17-year-old girl from Bara, whose polymerase chain reaction test for coronavirus came positive on Friday, died at Gandak Covid Hospital, Birgunj the same day.Shutterstock
Nepal reported one more Covid-19 related death and 109 new cases on Saturday. With this the national infection tally has reached 18,483 while the death toll has climbed to 45.
“A 17-year-old girl from Parwanipur Rural Municipality Ward No. 8 in Bara, whose polymerase chain reaction test for coronavirus came back positive on Friday, died at Gandak Covid Hospital in Birgunj the same day,” said Dr Jageshwor Gautam, the ministry spokesperson, at a press briefing.
“She had visited Birgunj Health Care Hospital on Wednesday where she was tested positive for coronavirus when tested with a rapid diagnostic kit,” Gautam said. “She was referred to the temporary Covid hospital in Birgunj on Thursday where her swab sample was taken for a polymerase chain reaction test.”
According to Gautam, the level of oxygen had decreased in her body, she had diarrhoea, breathing related difficulties and her body shivered.
“Out of 4,075 real-time polymerase chain reaction tests carried out at different labs across the country, 109 samples came back positive,” said Gautam.
Throat swabs of 13 people from Doti, 11 each from Saptari and Surkhet, eight from Parsa, six each from Kapilvastu and Jajarkot, five from Dang, four each from Rautahat, Dadeldhura, Nawalparasi (East) and Palpa, three each from Baitadi, Bara, Achham, Kalikot and Gulmi, two each from Kathmandu, Dailekh, Banke, Bardiya and Mugu, and one each from Tanahun, Humla, Chitwan, Sarlahi, Jhapa, Khotang, Makwanpur and Lalitpur tested positive.
So far, 13, 053 individuals have recovered from the disease. Gautam said 106 patients were discharged in the past 24 hours.
As many as 339,157 PCR tests have been performed in the country so far. Six districts—Bhojpur, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha, Rasuwa, Manang and Mustang—don’t have any active cases, Gautam said.
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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