COVID-19 in Nepal: 16 people died in 17 days, who is more at risk?

KATHMANDU: The graph of COVID-19 infection in Nepal is rising. Not only has the number of people infected with COVID-19 increased in the last two weeks but so has the number of serious illnesses and deaths.

According to information regularly published by the Ministry of Health and Population about the situation of COVID-19, 16 people died as a result of covid-related causes between July 17 and August 2. Twelve of them have received no more than one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, two have received a second dose, and two have received a booster dose.

All of the deceased were chronically ill, according to Dr. Samir Kumar Adhikari, co-spokesperson for the ministry. From July 17 to Wednesday, 16 people were infected and died. “They’re all chronically ill and over 50 years old,” he explained. “75% of those who died had not been vaccinated.”

In the two and a half years since the COVID-19 outbreak began, 11,968 people have died across the country. With the recent increase in infections, the number of infected people requiring ICU and ventilator care is also increasing. 158 people have been admitted to the hospital out of 5,275 active infected people. Forty-Three of them are in the intensive care unit, and two are on ventilators. According to the spokesman, the number of infected people being admitted to ICUs and placed on ventilators is gradually increasing.

Despite good progress in vaccination, the Ministry of Health has reported that the majority of people who have become seriously ill in the last few days as a result of COVID-19 have not been vaccinated, have received incomplete doses, or are elderly and chronically ill.

70 percent of the population vaccinated

Nepal has achieved more than 70% success in the COVID-19 vaccination program. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 73 percent of Nepal’s total population has received the first vaccination dose.

More than 70% of people receive the second and full dose of vaccination. “As a result, Nepal has been added to the list of countries with more than 70% coverage in the COVID-19 vaccination program,” said Dr. Adhikari, the co-spokesperson.

Previously, only citizens over the age of 18 were vaccinated in Nepal. Vaccination was later introduced for children aged 12 to 18. According to the ministry, 92 percent of Nepal’s population over the age of 12 received their first dose of vaccination. The second and full dose of vaccination is received by 88 percent of children aged 12 to 18 years.

The government started vaccinating children in the age group of 5 to 11 years from June 23. Despite receiving 37 lakh 92 thousand 398 vaccinations for children, the vaccination program has only been implemented in 27 districts. In 50 districts, vaccination has yet to be completed.