COVID-19 resurgence hits Kathmandu Valley, 12 confirmed cases reported

Two patients discharged after ICU treatment for severe symptoms

KATHMANDU, March 27: In the Kathmandu Valley, several individuals initially diagnosed with seasonal flu have tested positive for COVID-19. Following examinations at both the Tribhuvan University (TU) Teaching Hospital and Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, 12 patients were confirmed to be infected with the virus.

All confirmed cases have received treatment within the hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and high dependency unit. Two patients have already been discharged. Yuba Nidhi Basaula, the director of Sukraraj Tropical Hospital, overseeing the care of six infected individuals, confirmed that all testing for COVID-19 was conducted on the hospital premises.

As per the hospital's report, four patients who sought treatment at the emergency room of TU Teaching Hospital have tested positive for COVID-19. Dr Ramesh Maharjan, head of the emergency room, said that out of the nine samples tested on Monday, four were confirmed to be infected with the virus. These individuals arrived at the hospital suspecting pneumonia. Dr Maharjan confirmed that all COVID-19-positive cases have been admitted for necessary medical care.

In the past week, there was a surge in the number of patients with symptoms resembling pneumonia, leading them to seek medical attention at the hospital. Those confirmed to have COVID-19 have necessitated ICU treatment due to complications such as pneumonia and respiratory distress. Among the patients admitted with pneumonia and respiratory issues, a significant portion comprises individuals aged 50-60 years, many experiencing severe manifestations of COVID-19 for the first time, often compounded by pre-existing conditions like diabetes and asthma.

Usha Devkota, the ICU in-charge at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Diseases Hospital, said that COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU require critical care due to the severity of their conditions. She said, "Since the emergence of sporadic cases following the apparent decline of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have seen a notable increase in admissions over the past week."

According to Devkota, hospitals are proactively mobilizing stored equipment in response to the emergence of COVID-19 cases in the Nepal-India border area. "We are making preparations with beds and equipment," she said.

Meanwhile, the National Public Health Laboratory reported a significant number of various seasonal flu cases in samples tested up to March 10. Out of 2,426 samples examined between January and March 10, the laboratory confirmed 416 cases of H1N1, 33 cases of A1H3, 62 cases of COVID-19, and four cases of swine flu. However, data regarding COVID-19 tests for the past two weeks is unavailable from the National Public Health Laboratory. Dr Rajan Raj Bhatt, the director of the laboratory, said that they have not conducted gene sequencing of COVID-19 during this period. "We perform gene sequencing only when there is confirmation in multiple cases simultaneously," Bhatt said.

According to the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, there are currently six active COVID-19 cases.