Nepal’s COVID-19 case tally is inching toward 200,000 as winter sets in; nearly half the total cases from Kathmandu
KATHMANDU, Nov 11: Nepal saw 144 COVID-realted deaths just in one week.
On average, more than 20 people have died daily from the virus in the past one week.
1,148 people have died from COVID-19, and the infected number, as of Tuesday, stands at 199,760. The deaths account for 0.6 percent of the total cases, the fifth highest rate in South Asia.
Dengue is down but not out, warn doctors
The government had earlier decided not to bear the cost of COVID-19 treatments and tests, and the decision was reversed later. A large number of poor and the needy isolated at home, and the risk of infection has only gone up.
More than 60 percent of the infected are in home isolation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every five people diagnosed with the COVID-19 requires hospital cares.
Dr Sabin Thapaliya, who has been involved with COVID-19 treatment at TUTH, said that lack of information about self isolation is a major factor in the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.
“Those staying in home isolation must know what to do and what not to do. They should frequently keep checking their oxygen levels and body temperature,” he said.
Thapaliya also believed that the earlier decision of the government not to bear treatment costs might have contributed to the spike in deaths among COVID-19 patients in home isolation.
“ICU beds are vacant in TUTH but those in need of ICU care do not want to be admitted to the hospital due to financial problems,” he added.
As the pandemic spirals out of control, the government is behind in tracing the source of transmission. As winter sets in, doctors believe that the worst is ahead of us.
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