India acts like a mirror for coronavirus infection in Nepal - Dr Sher Bahadur Pun

KATHMANDU, April 17: Covid -19 infections, which were close to zero for a long time, have increased again. More than 100 cases of corona infection have been seen daily and two people have died since the infection started increasing.

With the increase in Covid-19 infections, the Ministry of Health and Population is calling for vigilance and vaccination against Covid -19.

For the first time, a new variant of the coronavirus, Omicron XBB 1.16, has been found in Nepal, and infections are on the rise, according to the ministry. 

Spokesperson for the ministry, Dr Samir Adhikari says that everyone had started believing that the coronavirus infection had disappeared, but the infection is increasing due to non-compliance of health standards.

According to Dr Adhikari, the number of Covid-19 infected patients coming to the hospital is increasing. In view of the increasing infection rate, the ministry informed Republica that the hospital management work is being done from coronavirus testing, monitoring, to vaccination.

He said, “The infection is on the rise. It has not yet reached a high point. Therefore, we have estimated that the infection may increase for some time and are moving towards reducing the rate of infection.

Stating that the government now has enough vaccines against Covid-19 in store, the official asked to administer the vaccine. He said that the ministry has delivered the vaccines against the coronavirus to all local governments. We have delivered the vaccines against Covid-19 at all local units. "Everyone should go to the nearest vaccination site and get vaccinated," he said.

According to him, among the infected are senior citizens, chronic patients and those who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19. Similarly, those who have died include senior citizens and chronic patients.

He said that even if we look at the recent confirmed infections, there are many people who returned from India and came in contact with others. Now the health desks along the border have also been activated.

He said, "The ministry is advancing the work of testing and monitoring Covid-19." Along with that, the management and coordination of the hospitals is being done. Our main focus is on complying with public health standards. If all common people pay attention to prevent the infection by following public health standards, complications of infection will not occur.

Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital Clinical Research Unit Coordinator Dr Sher Bahadur Pun says that this variant is similar to other variants so there is no need to panic. He says that everyone is ignoring the coronavirus infection and the infection has spread due to the lack of awareness.

On the question of how much the coronavirus infection will increase in Nepal, he said, “India is like a mirror for our country. The situation of Covid-19 infection in Nepal depends on how the infection is in India. Due to our open borders and movement, infections can easily spread in Nepal. But I think the infection rate will not be as high as before.

He said that it is necessary to be more careful during this time when we see that the coronavirus infection is increasing during the change of seasons. Therefore, he said, if we adopt preventive measures at this time, the infection will not increase.

He requested everyone to get vaccinated. He said, “The vaccine against Covid-19 does not mean that the infection will be prevented, but that the risk will be reduced. Covid-19 vaccine is necessary for senior citizens and chronic patients more than others.

Now, there are fewer people who are admitted to the hospitals due to Covid-19 and more people are coming for consultation.

The Ministry of Health and Population announced on April 3 that a new variant of the coronavirus, Omicron XBB.1.26 has been detected in Nepal. Since then 80 new covid-19 cases were reported on April 4, 98 on April 5, 85 on April 6, 99 on April 7, 64 on April 8, 55 on April 9, 124 on April 10, 106 on April 11 and on April 12, 106 on April 13.

Similarly, Covid-19 positive cases were seen in 136 people on April 14 , 64 on April 15 and 99 on April 16. In the meantime, two people have died of Covid-19, according to the ministry's data.

 
• MoHP
 
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