Lockdown helps control rapid spread of the virus but it also lessens chances of more tests
Fear and halt in transportations services massively reduce the number of people visiting hospitals. An empty street in Kathmandu on the third day of the lockdown on Thursday. Elite Joshi/TKP
On normal days, over 400 patients visit the outpatient department of Sumeru Hospital in Dhapakhel, Lalitpur. On Tuesday, there, however, were less than 15 patients who visited the hospital’s emergency ward.
“We did not even open the OPD,” said Hemraj Dahal, chairman of the hospital. “People with injuries and severe stomach pain and those who required emergency care were treated at the emergency ward.”
Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, in Teku, a government-run facility which has been designated as the primary treatment centre for possible Covid-19 patients, on the other hand, saw just one tenth of the visitors on Tuesday.
It could be because of lockdown but “people refrained from visiting the hospital also because of the fear of virus transmission,” a doctor at the hospital told the Post on condition of anonymity. “Over 100 patients visited our fever clinic yesterday [Monday].”
After a 19-year-old student who travelled from France via Qatar tested positive for Covid-19, concerns have grown among people about the possible spread of the virus.
Hours after announcing the second coronavirus case in the country—first was reported in January which was later declared recovered—the government on Monday evening declared a nationwide lockdown for a week starting 6am Tuesday.
Of the 100 patients who visited Teku’s fever clinic on Monday, two were admitted to the hospital on suspicion of carrying the coronavirus.
According to doctors at the hospital, nasal and throat samples of the two patients were sent to the National Public Health Laboratory for tests for Covid-19.
Public health experts say the lockdown as well as fears have prompted fewer people to visit the hospital. But this also reduces the chance of early diagnosis and treatment of the disease and prevention of transmission to the community, according to them.
Despite the World Health Organisation laying stress on tests and more tests, the number of tests in Nepal has been too low, largely due to a lack of resources and wherewithal.
After severe criticism that the government was not conducting adequate number of tests, the Ministry of Health and Population had decided to perform more tests and directed hospitals to run seperate fever clinics and sent samples of suspects for tests.
“Due to the lockdown and halt to public transport, people have not been able to visit hospitals,” Dr Baburam Marasini, former director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, told the Post. “Lockdown is aimed at controlling the spread of the disease, but it also prevents patients from seeking treatment.”
Though lockdown is not applicable to those in need of medical treatment, there are concerns over ambulance services, as most of the ambulances in the country are not equipped well to transport people suspected to have coronavirus infections.
According to Marasini, lockdown is usually enforced to prevent mass movement of people from one place to another so as to control rapid spread of the virus. “But lockdown has not been as successful in other countries as it was in China, as even developed countries like the United States are still struggling to contain the virus,” he said.
Chances of more sample collection have certainly declined due to the restriction of movement, according to Kumar Thapa, chairman of Alka Hospital in Lalitpur.
“How can patients visit the hospital when security personnel deployed to enforce the lockdown prevent doctors and nurses from coming to work?” said Thapa. According to him, 35 patients visited the hospital’s emergency ward on Tuesday.
Dr Bikash Devkota, spokesperson for the Health Ministry, however, said that the lockdown was enforced to prevent mass movement of the people and that people needing medical care should be allowed to visit hospitals.
“Those who have returned from abroad or those who have met people travelling from abroad and those with fever and flu-like symptoms must visit hospitals,” Devkota told the Post. “Others who have not come in contact with such people and those who do not have any serious ailments should stay home and take precautions.”
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.
Arjun Poudel is a health reporter for The Kathmandu Post. Before joining the Post, he worked for Sagarmatha Television, Naya Patrika, Republica and The Himalayan Times.
19.12°C Kathmandu
.jpg&w=300&height=200)
