Nepal on Tuesday reported four more Covid-19-related deaths—two from Dhanusha and one each from Sindhupalchok and Kavrepalanchok districts, taking the toll to 83.
The Health Ministry said a 60-year-old man from Bideha Municipality ward 8 in Dhanusha died at the Janakpur Provincial Hospital on Monday. He was admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital on July 23 for the treatment of pneumonia and tuberculosis.
A 50-year-old man from Mithila Bihari Municipality, who worked at Binaya Tara Foundation (Cancer Hospital), died on August 9. Suffering from diarrhoea, he had lost consciousness while being taken to a hospital on a motorcycle. He was confirmed to have been infected with Covid-19 on Monday, after his death at the hospital.
Ministry spokesperson Dr Jageshwor Gautam, during a regular press briefing, said the third victim, a 50-year-old woman from Panchkhal Municipality ward 1 in Kavrepalanchok, died at the Lalitpur-based Kist Medical College on Tuesday. She was admitted to the hospital on Sunday for pneumonia.
The fourth victim, a 84-year-old man from Barhabise Municipality ward 4 in Sindhupalchok, died at the Manmohan Cardiovascular Hospital in Maharajgunj on August 6. He was a heart and kidney patient and was admitted to the hospital a day before his death. His report came positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday.
The ministry also confirmed 638 new cases from the 10,462 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests performed in the past 24 hours, taking the national tally to 23,948.
Samples of 110 individuals from Kathmandu, 70 from Parsa, 42 from Morang, 41 from Sarlahi, 39 from Bara, 33 each from Sunsari and Rupandehi, 29 from Banke, 24 from Dhanusha, 20 from Rautahat, 18 from Kapilvastu, 17 from Pyuthan, 16 each from Udayapur and Lalitpur, 14 from Siraha, 13 from Saptari, 12 from Mahottari, 11 from Dhading, 10 from Jhapa, nine from Dang, eight from Bhaktapur, five each from Kaski and Surkhet, four from Kavre, three each from Chitwan, Nuwakot and Dailekh, two each from Okhaldhunga, Baglung, Parbat, Tanahun, Nawalparasi (West) and Salyan, and one each from Dhankuta, Ilam, Khotang, Panchthar, Dolakha, Makwanpur, Ramechhap, Sindhupalchok, Gorkha, Syangja, Argakhanchi, Bardiya, Rolpa, Jajarkot, Kalikot, Rukum (West), Achham and Darchula tested positive for the virus.
As many as 16,664, or 69.6 percent, individuals have made successful recoveries after being diagnosed with Covid-19. The ministry said 171 persons were discharged in the past 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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