Drinking alcohol can make the coronavirus worse, says Health Ministry (with video)

Published On: May 5, 2020 05:33 PM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, May 5: At a regular press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Bikash Devkota advised the people to avoid consuming alcohol during the coronavirus pandemic.

Devkota said that alcohol consumption can make a person more vulnerable to catching COVID-19. “Therefore, people should avoid drinking alcohol, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

He also provided the latest updates on the COVID-19 across the country. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has reached 82, according to Devkota. He shared that seven more patients from Nepalgunj, Banke tested positive for the virus on Tuesday morning. "Their condition is normal," spokesperson Devkota said.

Swab sample tests of those patients at the Nepalgunj-based Bheri Hospital came positive, according to Devkota. Of them, three are males (aged 22, 30 and 40) and four are females ( aged 9, 32, 34 and 55). All of them are from Nepalgunj-8, he said.

“Their condition is normal and they are under the supervision of medics," Dekota informed. With this, the number of COVID-19 patients in Nepalgunj alone has climbed to 23.

So far, 13850 persons underwent tests through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, according to him. Likewise, 52,227 persons underwent tests through Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) method. In the past 24 hours alone, health institutions carried out 1582 tests.

Devkota also provided figures on the RDT tests carried out in all provinces. 6122 tests were conducted in Province 1, 5,778 tests in Province 2, 8940 tests in Bagmati Province and 6074 tests in Gandaki Province, 5193 tests in Province 5, 5876 tests in Karnali Province and 14244 tests in Sudurpaschim Province.

According to him, 21099 persons are at various quarantine facilities across the country. Likewise, 120 persons are in isolation across the country.

Devkota informed that Karnali Heath Science Academy has also started conducting the PCR test. "With this, now there are 18 labs across the country to conduct coronavirus tests," the spokesperson said.

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