Nepal reports highest single-day death toll and new Covid-19 infections
According to the health ministry, 14 individuals succumbed to the disease while 1,221 new cases were recorded across the country with 429 in the Kathmandu Valley alone, in the last 24 hours. Shutterstock
Nepal recorded its highest single-day Covid-related death toll on Sunday with 14 people losing their life to the disease. The national toll is now 221.
Similarly, the national tally of cases reached 38,561 after 1,221 new cases—the highest single-day count so far—were confirmed in the past 24 hours.
Kathmandu Valley reported a record 429 new infections, with 372 cases in Kathmandu district, 45 in Bhaktapur and 12 in Lalitpur, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.
According to the ministry, ten men and four women succumbed to the disease in the past 24 hours
“A 62-year-old woman and two men aged 70 and 35 from Mahottari; a 74-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man from Sunsari; two men aged 57 and 67 from Rupandehi, a 47-year-old woman from Bara, a 72 year-old woman from Kathmandu, a 62-year-old man from Morang, a 30-year-old man from Rautahat, a 29-year-old man from Lalitpur, a 65-year-man from Bhaktapur and a 62-year-old man from Nawalparasi, were the latest casualties ,” said spokesperson Dr Jageshwar Gautam, during a regular press briefing.
According to the ministry, 86 individuals from Province 2, fifty-one from Bagmati Province, 30 from Province 5, twenty-seven from Province 1, thirteen from Gandaki Province, 10 from Sudurpaschim province, and four from Karnali have died due to Covid-19-related conditions so far.
“A total of 12,717 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were carried out in the past 24 hours,”said Gautam. So far, 682,343 PCR tests have been performed in the country.
Samples of 372 individuals from Kathmandu, 90 from Chitwan, 82 from Bara, 75 from Dhanusa, 61 from Rupandehi, 49 from Morang, 47 from Bajhang, 46 from Parsa, 45 from Bhaktapur, 37 from Mahottari, 34 from Sarlahi, 33 from Sunsari, 26 from Siraha, 25 each from Kavrepalanchok and Kapilvastu; 21 from Nawalparasi (West), 14 from Banke, 12 from Lalitpur, 11 each from Jhapa and Doti; nine from Makwanpur, eight each from Palpa and Achham; six each from Saptari, Gulmi, Bardiya and Kailali; five each from Sindhuli, Kaski, Gorkha, Dang and Pyuthan; four each from Okhaldhunga and Tanahun; three each from Dhading, Baglung and Argakhanchi; two each from Surkhet, Sankhuwasabha, Sindhupalchok, Nawalparasi (East) and Darchula; and one each from Ilam, Panchthar, Ramechhap and Kanchanpur, tested positive for the coronavirus.
So far, 20,822 individuals have successfully recovered from the infection. According to the ministry, 267 Covid patients were discharged from various hospitals in the last 24 hours.
There are currently 17,518 active cases in the country.
Gautam said, “144 patients are being treated in intensive care units across the country and 17 patients— 12 from Bagmati, three from Province 1 and two from Province 5—are on ventilator support.”
Two districts—Mustang and Humla—don’t have any active cases, according to the ministry.
On Saturday, Nepal had recorded 884 new Covid-19 cases and 12 deaths. The country had reported 927 new Covid-19 cases and 12 deaths on Friday. The ministry had reported eight Covid-19-related deaths and 1,111 new cases, on Thursday compared to 11 deaths and 885 new cases on Wednesday and seven deaths and 855 new cases on Tuesday. There were eight deaths and 743 new cases on Monday.
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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