Nepal recorded seven more Covid-19 related deaths on Monday, taking the toll to 228. The national infection tally reached 39,460 with the confirmation of 899 new infections in the past 24 hours.
Kathmandu Valley reported 298 new cases, 190 of them were in Kathmandu, 67 in Lalitpur and 41 in Bhaktapur, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.
According to the ministry, four men and three women succumbed to the disease in the past 24 hours.
“A four-year-old girl from Mahottari, a 65-year-old woman from Gorkha, a 68-year-old woman from Rupandehi, an 86-year-old man from Jhapa, a 40-year-old man from Rautahat, a 78-year-old man from Chitwan and a 77-year-old man from Bhaktapur died due to Covid-19 related complications,” Dr Jageshwar Gautam, the ministry’s spokesperson, said during a regular press briefing.
In the past 24 hours, 190 individuals from Kathmandu, 103 from Sarlahi, 71 from Chitwan and 67 from Lalitpur have tested positive for the coronavirus infection.
Infections have also been recorded among 42 people from Makwanpur 41 from Bhaktapur, 38 from Surkhet, 34 from Parsa, 31 from Dhanusa and 26 from Tanahun.
Likewise, 25 from Sunsari, 23 each from Achham and Bara; 22 from Saptari, 19 from Morang, 16 from Kailali, 14 from Banke, 13 each from Kavre and Gorkha; 11 from Rupandehi, nine from Sankhuwasabha, seven each from Kanchanpur and Sindhuli have also contracted the virus.
Six people from Mahottari, five each from Jhapa and Siraha, four each from Nawalparasi (East) and Baglung, three each from Khotang, Kaski and Nawalparasi (West) have also tested positive for the coronavirus infection.
Dolakha, Ramechhap, Lamjung, Argakhanchi, Bardiya and Baitadi districts have reported two cases each. Okhaldhunga, Rautahat, Sindhupalchok, Kapilvastu, Palpa, Jumla, Doti, Dhading and Bajhang districts recorded a case each.
There are currently 17,822 active cases in the country.
So far, 21,410 individuals have successfully recovered from the infection. According to the ministry, 588 Covid patients were discharged from various hospitals in the last 24 hours.
Gautam said, “132 patients are being treated in intensive care units across the country and 16 patients— 13 from Bagmati, one 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 Sunday, the country had recorded 1,221 infections and 14 deaths, the highest daily new cases and fatalities till date.
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.
15.12°C Kathmandu
