Nepal on Saturday reported nine more Covid-19-related deaths, taking the toll to 146. Meanwhile, with 634 new infections in the last 24 hours, the national tally has reached 31,117.
The Health Ministry said that nine people—three men from Parsa, one six-year-old girl and another 67-year-old man from Sunsari, and four men from Bara, Siraha, Makwanpur and Bhaktapur—succumbed to the disease.
According to the ministry, 62 individuals from Province 2, 31 from Bagmati Province, 17 from Province 5, 16 from Province 1, eight each from Sudurpaschim and Gandaki provinces and four from Karnali have died from Covid-19-related conditions so far.
“A total of 12,519 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were carried out in the past 24 hours,” said Health Ministry spokesperson Dr Jageshwar Gautam, during a regular press briefing. So far, 592,418 PCR tests have been performed in the country.
Samples of 160 individuals from Kathmandu, 59 from Parsa, 52 from Morang, 50 from Bhaktapur, 35 from Siraha, 32 from Makwanpur, 31 from Sunsari, 28 from Banke, 27 from Chitwan, 23 from Rupandehi, 17 from Jhapa, 16 from Kaski, 15 from Kapilvastu, 14 from Kailali, 10 from Bara, seven from Bardiya, six each from Lalitpur and Salyan; four from Dolakha, three each from Bhojpur, Dhanusa, Saptari, Kavrepalanchok, Nawalparasi (East) and Nawalparasi (West); two each from Rautahat, Dhading, Nuwakot, Tanahun, Jumla and Surkhet; and one each from Ilam, Sankhuwashaba, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Sindhuli, Baglung, Syangja, Palpa, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Dadeldhura and Doti tested positive for the coronavirus.
So far, 18,350 individuals have made successful recoveries after being diagnosed with Covid-19. According to the ministry, 136 Covid patients were discharged from various hospitals in the last 24 hours. There are 12,621 active cases in the country.
Gautam said, “135 patients are undergoing treatment at intensive care units in various hospitals across the country while 12 patients in Bagmati Province are being treated with ventilator support.”
Three districts—Mustang, Myagdi and Humla—don’t have any active cases, according to the ministry.
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.
8.12°C Kathmandu
