Nepal confirms COVID death after over two and half months as cases surge

By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, July 17: Death from COVID-19 has been confirmed in Nepal after over two and half months today. The last time the COVID-19 death was recorded was on May 4.

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) confirmed a death related to COVID-19 today.

Dr. Sameer Kumar Adhikari, a joint Spokesperson of the MoHP, said that no death related to COVID-19 was recorded in the country for over two and half months and added that the new variant, B.A.5, of the novel coronavirus variant omicron, along with negligence of people in adhering to the health safety standard is responsible for the rise in COVID-19 cases.

Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun, Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku, said that the number of rising COVID-19 cases is because of the new variant B.A.5. However, B.A.5 is less deadly than other variants while observing the scenarios of other countries.

58 districts under COVID-19 yellow zone, one in the red zone

According to the data of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) for the last 14 days, 58 districts are in a yellow zone, which is, COVID-19 cases are between 1 and 100.  Kathmandu District is in the red zone with 763 cases, while 19 districts are free from COVID-19.

Taplejung, Sankheshubha and Khotang of Province 1, Manag, Mustang and Mygadi of Gandaki Province, Kapilvastu, Gulmi, Rolpa of Lumbini Province, Dolpa, Jajarkot, Rukum West, Dailekh, Karnali, and Mugu of Karnali Province and Mugu, Baitadi, and Dadeldhura of Sudur Paschim Province have not recorded any cases of COVID-19 in the last two weeks when the COVID-19 cases began to rise again in Nepal.