Nepal reported eight more Covid-19-related deaths on Monday, taking the toll to 157. Meanwhile, 743 new cases, 224 infections in Kathmandu Valley alone, were reported in the past 24 hours, taking the national tally to 32,678.
The Health Ministry said that a woman and three men from Rupandehi, a 48-year-old woman from Kathmandu, a 70-year-old woman from Parsa, a 68-year-old from Sunsari, and a 65-year-old man from Morang succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours.
According to the ministry, 65 individuals from Province 2, 32 from Bagmati Province, 21 from Province 5, 18 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 10,234 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, 610,469 PCR tests have been performed in the country.
Samples of 177 individuals from Kathmandu, 94 from Bara, 79 from Kailali, 34 Parsa, 33 from Lalitpur, 32 from Chitwan, 31 from Morang, 23 from Sunsari, 19 each from Jajarkot and Kanchanpur; 18 each from Makwanpur and Rukum (West); 15 from Saptari, 14 from Bhaktapur, 11 from Surkhet, 10 from Siraha, nine from Kapilvastu, eight each from Sarlahi and Banke; six from Rupandehi, five each from Sindhupalchok, Jhapa, Dhanusha, Rautahat, Kavrepalanchok, Nawalparasi (East) and Nawalparasi (East); four each from Khotang, Gulmi and Dadeldhura; three each from Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha, Ramechhap, Dhading, Kaski, Baglung, Palpa and Rolpa; and one each from Ilam, Udayapur, Dolaha, Gorkha, Myagdi, Syangja, Argakhanchi, Bardiya, Darchula and Bajura tested positive for the coronavirus.
So far, 18,806 individuals have made successful recoveries after being diagnosed with Covid-19. According to the ministry, 175 Covid patients were discharged from various hospitals in the last 24 hours. There are 13,715 active cases in the country.
Gautam said, “138 patients are undergoing treatment at intensive care units in various hospitals across the country while 15 patients in Bagmati Province are being treated with ventilator support.”
Two districts—Mustang 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.
15.12°C Kathmandu
