With four more deaths, Nepal’s Covid-19 toll reaches 56
Among the 10,768 samples tested across the country in the past 24 hours, 224 came back positive for the coronavirus, according to the Health Ministry.Shutterstock
Nepal on Friday reported four more deaths from Covid-19-related conditions and 224 new coronavirus cases, taking the toll to 56 and total infections to 19,771.
Three men, aged 56, 35 and 65 of Parsa district, and a 65-year-old woman also from Parsa but living in Lalitpur became the latest Covid-19 casualties in the country, said Dr Jageswar Gautam, the Health Ministry spokesperson, during a press briefing.
The 56-year-old resident of Birgunj Metropolitan City Ward 11, Shreepur, died on Thursday night at Gandak Covid Hospital, Birgunj, Gautam said.
According to Gautam, he had heart-related ailments and had been receiving intensive care on ventilator support.
He was admitted to the hospital on July 22 after he tested positive for the coronavirus on July 21.
The 35-year-old man from Birgunj-16 died at around 7:40 pm on Thursday at Gandak Covid Hospital.
According to Gautam, he had fever and breathing-related difficulties when he was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday. He had tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday.
The 65-year-old man from Birgunj Ward 2, Chhapkaiya, died on Thursday morning. His swab samples were collected after his death, which tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday evening.
The 65-year-old woman from Birgunj-11 was living in Lalitpur. She died on Friday at Patan Hospital.
According to Gautam, she was a diabetic and had issues with blood pressure. She was admitted to Star Hospital for fever, cough and breathing-related ailments on July 21. She was transferred to Patan hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus the same day.
There has been an explosion of coronavirus infections in Birgunj of Parsa in recent days. The local administration has issued a prohibitory order in the city from July 25, suspecting community transmission of the disease.
Samples of 41 people from Parsa, 32 from Kathmandu, 25 from Bajhnag, 18 from Kanchanpur, 16 from Darchula, 15 each from Morang and Kailali, 13 from Jhapa, 10 from Baitadi, five from Lalitpur, four from Bara, three each from Rautahat, Kaski, Dang and Doti, two each from Nuwakot, Myagdi, Nawalparasi (East), Gulmi and Dailekh, one each from Sarlahi, Dhanusha, Saptari, Bhaktapur, Makwanpur, Tanahun, Banke and Rupandehi tested positive for the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, said Gautam.
So far, 14,399 individuals have made successful recoveries after being diagnosed with Covid-19. Dr Gautam said 151 patients were discharged in the past 24 hours.
As many as 375,416 PCR tests have been performed in the country so far. Of them, 10,768 were carried out in the past 24 hours. Six districts—Bhojpur, Sankhuwasabha, Rasuwa, Kavre, 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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