Nepal reports first Covid-19 death after more than two months

Nepal today reported the first Covid-19 death in last two-and-a-half months.

The last time Nepal witnessed Covid-19-related death was on October 24, according to the Health Ministry. “The countrywide death toll touched 12,020 since the Covid pandemic started,” it informed. The ministry also confirmed that some 988,979 infected people have recovered from the disease so far, though the national active Covid-19 caseload has reached 21, today. The nationwide Covid-19 infection tally remains at 1,001,020.

According to the latest data of the ministry, a total of 555 PCR tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, while no antigen tests have been performed during the same time. With this, a total of 5,992,656 PCR tests have been carried out till date. Nepal's Covid-19 recovery rate stands at 98.8 per cent, while the fatality rate stands at 1.2 per cent. 

Currently, there are no individuals in any quarantine facilities across Nepal.

Nepal opens up for tourists

 Nepal has resumed on-arrival visa services for foreigners.

According to a new protocol issued by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, now tourists can get on-arrival visa as Nepal reported a sharp decline in the new cases of Covid-19 in the past few weeks. The  new rule has also scrapped the mandatory requirement to stay in quarantine for 14 days in case of those, who have received both the doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

The new protocol was issued under the Infectious Disease Act (1964), after the Covid-19 Crisis Management Ordinance (2020), along with around a dozen ordinances, introduced by the government, became ineffective from September 16 when they failed to get through House within the constitutional deadline. The cabinet, on Monday, approved the new travel protocol under the old Infectious Disease Act. It will be effective from today, according to the Tourism Ministry.

According to the new protocol, all foreigners arriving in Nepal, however, will have to undergo antigen tests at the entry point. "They can directly go to their destinations without having to stay in mandatory quarantine, if they test negative for the virus," the protocol reads, "But those testing positive in the antigen tests are required to stay in a hotel until they test negative for the virus."

If the antigen test facility is not available at the border points, the visiting foreign nationals need to undergo such tests at their respective hotels, the protocol reads, adding that they are allowed to venture outside only after they have a negative PCR test report.

Likewise, Nepalis returning the country with both doses of Covid-19 vaccines can directly go to their homes. They, however, must produce a PCR negative test of Covid-19 taken 72 hours before their departure, the protocol adds.

"Indian nationals, who test negative for the virus can enter Nepal even if they have not received Covid-19 vaccines," it reads, adding that they must furnish PRC negative reports conducted within 72 hours before their arrival at Nepal's border. "They also need to fill up an online form available at the Central Covid-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) and produce a hard copy of the form upon their arrival at the border point."

Nepal’s decision to ease quarantine requirements and visa issuance has send a positive message to the international community, according to the travel and tourism entrepreneurs.

Insurance firms asked to provide Covid-19 insurance compensation within a week

 A day after the Finance Ministry diktat, the Insurance Board has today instructed insurance companies to settle claims for Covid-19 insurance within a week of verifying their positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

The insurance sector regulator – issuing a circular today – asked all non-life insurance companies to pay to insured Covid-19 patients with PCR positive reports within seven days. The new directive came after widespread complaints of hassles and delays on acquiring the compensation for the Covid-19 insurance coverage. The insurance companies have collected over a billion rupees in premiums by selling Covid-19 policies that provide coverage of up to Rs 100, 000, but many policyholders have been complaining that insurers have delayed for the claim settlement.

During the meeting yesterday at the Finance Ministry – where Insurance Board chair Chiranjibi Chapagain and Nepal Insurers’ Association president Dip Prakash Pandey were also present – finance minister Bishnu Poudel directed them to settle Covid-19 insurance claims without unnecessary delay. The meeting – that was also attended by the finance secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana and revenue secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini – also decided that the Insurance Board will coordinate and monitor the situation of Covid-19 insurance claims and settlement, and submit a daily progress report to the Finance Ministry.

The new Finance Minister Poudel also instructed the Insurance Board not only to make sure that policyholders get their insurance compensation within seven days but also to send daily reports of claim settlements. Accordingly, the Insurance Board has formed a committee led by its director Pujan Dhungel Adhikari including deputy director Nirmal Adhikari and assistant director Kedar Nath Bhatta to look after the complaints from policy holders. The Board has also asked the policyholders to register their grievances and complaints with the Insurance Board or make call on its Toll Free Number.

The Coronavirus Insurance Programme has been announced by the incumbent government in the budget for the current fiscal year. But the programme ran into controversy, immediately as the non-life insurance companies decided not to sell the policy, assuming that the amount to be paid in claims will be very high. After the public outcry, the Finance Ministry was forced to direct Insurance Board to ask the non-life insurance firms to give continuity to the coronavirus insurance scheme, and the government was ready to share the risk with the insurance firms, given the increasing cases of Covid-19 across the country.

Nepal’s Covid-19 death toll crosses 1,000

 The number of Nepalis dying of Covid-19 infection has crossed 1,000 today, 10 months after the detection of the first confirmed case of coronavirus.

According to the Health Ministry, as many as 20 new deaths were reported from across the country in the past 24 hours taking the total fatality to 1,004. Nepal recorded the first coronavirus positive case in January 13. According to the ministry, some 503 individuals from Bagmati Province, some 159 from Province 2, some 138 from Lumbini Province, some 119 from Province 1, some 55 from Gandaki Province, some 17 from Sudurpaschim Province, and some 13 from Karnali Province have died of Covid-19 so far.

“Some 3,114 fresh coronavirus cases as reported today taking the national tally to 179,614,” the ministry updated, adding that till date, some 1,480,978 tests through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method have been carried out, of which 11,166 PCR tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. “At present, there are 1,277 people under quarantine in various facilities across the country. The number of active cases in Nepal is 37,476.”

Some 3,114 new cases – with 1,867 males and 1,247 females – of the coronavirus infection were registered today taking the 179,614.

As many as 3,142 persons earlier diagnosed with the disease have tested negative in the last 24 hours. With the recent addition, the national Covid-19 recovery tally has now reached 141,134.

Meanwhile, 20 more fatalities were confirmed by the Ministry today, with which the Covid-19 death tally has now surpassed the 1000 mark.

As of today, the country has witnessed 179,614 cases of the coronavirus infection while 141,134 people have recovered from the disease. Meanwhile, 1,004 Covid-19 fatalities have been confirmed.

Over 1.2 million deaths from the disease have been reported worldwide while the global case tally is recorded over 47 million.

Kathmandu valley registers record 3,107 new infections

 A total of 3,107 new cases of coronavirus infection have been reported in the Kathmandu Valley today.

“Among the new cases, some 2,391 cases have been registered in Kathmandu district alone,” confirmed Health Ministry spokesperson Dr Jageshwor Gautam. “Some 543 and 173 cases were detected in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts, respectively.”

Kathmandu still leads as the district with highest number of active cases, whereas Mustang is the only district in the country with zero active cases. “Some 16 districts including the three valley districts, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Kavrepalanchok, Makawanpur, Chitwan, Kaski, Dang, Banke, Rupandehi, Kailali, Surkhet, and Dadeldhura have over 500 active cases of infection,” he said, adding that the day also recorded 26 coronavirus related deaths – the highest single-day fatalities – in the last 24 hours taking the country’s Covid-19 death-toll to 791. “Nepal registered some 5,743 additional cases of coronavirus infection taking the nationwide Covid-19 tally to 144,872 today.”

The country set new records both in terms of Covid-19 fatalities and infection cases today. “The number of active cases stands at 44,476 as 99,605 people have made successful recovery; some 2,996 of them in the past 24 hours.”

As of today, the number of confirmed cases in the Kathmandu Valley has reached 62,579. A total of 60,081 cases have been detected after the three district administration offices in Kathmandu Valley imposed prohibitory orders on August 19.

As of today, some 1,334,897 PCR tests have been carried out across the country, whereas a total of 20,118 PCR tests were performed in the past 24 hours,” Dr Gautam said, adding that in the past 24 hours, some 696 new infections were reported in Province 1, some 127 in Province 2, and some 3,594 in Bagmati Province. “Likewise, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces reported 349, 591, 206, and 180 new cases respectively.”

Government not to bear cost of Covid-19 treatment, PCR testing

 Almost after 6 months, the government has decided not to bear the cost of treatment and PCR testing of Covid-19 patients from today.

A cabinet meeting recently decided to bear only the cost of treatment and PCR testing of frontline workers including differently-abled, single women, senior citizens, security personnel, and sanitization workers, according to the Health Ministry. “They will also be tested only after showing Covid-19 symptoms.”

In a regular virtual press meeting today, spokesperson for the Health Ministry Dr Jageshwar Gautam confirmed that the decision will be effective – in all the government, non-governmental hospitals and laboratories – from today.

Ordinary citizens – other than the frontline workers – and other designated groups have to now onwards bear the cost of Covid-19 treatment and PCR tests on their own, which is against the socialism-oriented Constitution that guarantees the fundamental rights including health and education. However, the incumbent government is hell bent on distorting the Constitutional supremacy.

Likewise, the government has also asked the people to manage the funeral rites of their family members, who die of Covid-19 in home isolation. Earlier, the Nepalese Army has been managing the funeral.

First the government refused to take admission to the non-symptomatic patients in the hospital, and then not charging them for PCR and leaving them to manage the dead bodies.

Amending the ‘Dead Body Management of Covid-19 Cases Guideline’, the government has expressed its inability to manage the funerals of the people dying of Covid-19 in home isolation. The government decision is going to create additional troubles for the people at a time when the hospitals are almost full with patients of the coronavirus and the ambulance and hearse operators are refusing to carry Covid-19 cases.

According to the new rule, the family members need to inform the local administration and the police, if the infected individuals die at home. The funeral rites have to be carried out by maintaining physical distance but old people aged above 60 years and children are barred from participating in the rituals. “The family members themselves have to manage a vehicle to carry the dead body.”

The persons carrying the dead body need to wear gloves, surgical masks, boots, spectacles and full sleeve dress, the new rule reads, adding that the family members have to wrap the body in cloth and transfer it as soon as possible to the mortuary area.

Government issues guidelines for mountaineering and trekking activities

 The government has asked the foreigner to carry with themselves a PCR test report conducted not more than 72 hours ago – for trekking and mountaineering purpose – apart from seven-day mandatory hotel quarantine before they will be allowed to hit the trail. The travelers need to get tested for Covid-19 at the beginning and end of the isolation period, according to the government guideline issued today.

Issuing health protocol today for foreign tourists to follow in order to minimise the possible spread of coronavirus infection while conducting trekking and mountaineering activities, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation also asked the tourists to secure an entry-visa, or an entry-permit in absence of visa-provision in their countries in co-ordination with respective agencies. “Travellers have to secure visas before they arrive in Nepal,” the ministry said, adding that the government will not issue on-arrival visas at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) like before.

If the visitors are unable to secure visas through the Nepal embassies and diplomatic mission abroad, they should make a prior request through their trekking or travel agencies in Nepal. The Department of Tourism that issues mountaineering permits, and the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) that issues trekking permits, will recommend to the Department of Immigration to issue visas to the applicants.

The government is allowing the foreign trekkers and mountaineers to visit Nepal from October 17.

The tourists must carry with themselves a PCR test report conducted not more that 72 hours ago, attesting that the person has tested negative for Covid-19. “Along with the report, the traveler must have booking-documents for the hotel wherein they will stay for at least seven days in quarantine.”

They must also undergo a PCR test at their own expense on the fifth day of being quarantined. They may proceed for the purported activity at the end of quarantine period only on testing negative for the disease. “If the test results in a positive, the person must stay in quarantine for as long as they do not test negative,” the guidelines read.

The travelers must provide papers proving they have an insurance of $5,000, it reads. “The ministry has also asked the trekking or mountaineering agency to insure travelers from Nepal against coronavirus for a sum of Rs 100,000 prior to applying for permit.”

Apart from the guidelines, the travelers must also abide by all the protocols laid out by the Health Ministry.

However, the travel experts criticised the government guidelines saying that the travelers will not come to Nepal to stay in the hotel for a week. They also requested the government to withdraw the decision.

The government – on March 12, a day after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic and urged countries to take precautionary measures – had decided to temporarily stop issuing on-arrival tourist visas to nationals of all countries, and cancel spring mountaineering expeditions including Mt Everest missions.

The government also stopped international flights from March 20 and imposed lockdown from March 24. Though, the lockdown was lifted after 120 days, on July 21, the government continued with the restrictive order with restrictions on movement.

Prince of Bahrain coming to Nepal for mountaineering

 The government has allowed some 18 climbers including the prince of Bahrain to enter Nepal for mountaineering.

A cabinet meeting yesterday decided to allow the high level guests to come to Nepal for mountaineering at the recommendation of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA). “Those receiving permission include 15 people from Bahrain including the prince of Bahrain and three others from the United Kingdom (UK), confirmed government spokesperson Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada today. “They will come to Nepal on charter flights after September 15,” he said, adding said, the climbers will attempt to scale Mt Manaslu and Mt Lobuche. “They will follow the safety measures prepared by the Health Ministry upon their arrival in Nepal.”

The government has opened mountain peaks across the country for climbers but the ban on international flights and international borders, apart from restriction in movement inside the country has hit the tourism sector, though mountaineering activities has resumed in July after a hiatus of nearly five months due to Covid-19.

The government is also preparing a quarantine modality for tourists arriving in Nepal. “The guests will have to mandatorily stay in hotel quarantine for a week and undergo PCR tests before heading to their planned destinations,” according to the safety measures prepared by the Health Ministry.

India gifts 10 ICU ventilators to Nepal Army

 Indian Army has gifted 10 ICU ventilators to the Nepal Army in order to support its efforts to fight against the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.

Ambassador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra today handed over the ventilators – in a ceremony held at Nepali Army Headquarters – to Chief of Army Staff General Purna Chnadra Thapa, who is also honourary general of Indian Army.

The ventilators are designed for a broad range of applications to include advanced invasive or non-invasive respiratory support, according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. “They can be used in support of secondary care in hospitals with ICU, tertiary multispecialty hospitals and dedicated ICUs,” it reads, adding that they are portable and handy in transportation of patients requiring intensive care due to their compact nature. “The Indian Army has a long record of extending support to the Nepali Army as a first responder for humanitarian assistance and relief.”

The gifting of ventilators is part of this continued humanitarian cooperation between the two Armies, it adds. During the handing over ceremony, envoy Kwatra reaffirmed India’s commitment to provide all necessary help to the people of Nepal in prevailing over the pandemic.

Switzerland continues supporting Nepal on relief and recovery

Another 20,000 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) based detection test kits by Roche Diagnostics has been handed over to the Ministry of Health and Population today.
A total of 40,000 PCR test kits have been handed over to the Nepal government as a part of the government of Switzerland’s support through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), reads a press note issued by the SDC.

Himalaya Airlines to operate two repatriation flights to Kunming

Himalaya Airlines is operating two repatriation flights to Kunming of China on July 31.
The company – issuing a press note today – said that it is carrying out the repatriation flights to bring back Nepalis, who are stranded in Kunming of China due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government has permitted and authorised the airliner to carry out repatriation flights to Kunming, the press note reads, adding that two aircraft will be sent to China to bring Nepalis, who want to return Nepal. “The passengers will be allowed to bring 30-kg check-in baggage and 7-kg hand carry.”
The airliner has fixed $445 fare for the respective flights.
Meanwhile, the airline company said that it will operate the flights only, if the aircraft has 85 per cent occupancy. All passengers are required to present proof that their PCR or RDT test is negative at the time of the booking, the press note reads, adding that the passengers will have to mandatorily stay in quarantine upon arrival as per the rules enforced by the government.
The airline has evacuated Nepalis stranded abroad since the government announced the guidelines to bring back Nepalis wanting to come back home. Covid-19 has left many Nepali migrant workers jobless abroad including in China. Though the government has been repatriating stranded Nepalis from different countries through special charter flights, Nepal is resuming regular aviation service – both domestic and international flights – from August 17. The government had suspended all domestic and international flights from March 22 to contain the spread of Covid-19 in the country. 

Government lists out hotels available for quarantine

The government has listed some 47 hotels – in the first phase – in Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Chitwan and Rupandehi that are available for quarantine service for migrant worker returnees, who will be evacuated from abroad starting from yesterday.
Yesterday, some 26 Nepalis have been evacuated from Myanmar, and some 168 Nepalis from UAE in a chartered flight of Air Arabia. They have been transported to holding centres – managed by the Nepal Army (NA) – before they travel back to home their districts. About 20 holding centres have been set up in Kathmandu for returning Nepalis and are designated province-wise. The passengers will stay there for 2 to 3 days awaiting results of their PCR tests, and will then be taken by bus to their home province for further quarantine and self-isolation. Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) has offered the hotels for quarantine.
However, there is a confusion as the Kathmandu District Administration Office (DAO) – under the Ministry of Home Affairs – published the list of hotels in Kathmandu Valley available for quarantine service public yesterday, according to the HAN. “We have provided the list of hotels including star, tourist standard and deluxe resorts in the Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan, Rupandehi and Pokhara, but the Kathmandu CDO yesterday published the notice of hotels in Kathmandu Valley only,” complained HAN representatives.
HAN had provided the Kathmandu district office with the preliminary list of hotels willing to provide their space to be used as quarantine facilities. “There is no coordination among the Covid-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) that acts as the secretariat of the high-level coordination committee led by deputy prime minister and defence minister Ishwor Pokharel, and chief district offices,” the HAN said, adding that they will hold talks tomorrow on the issue with them. “HAN will also update the list as more hotels will come forward to offer this service in the future.”
Star hotels like Grand Hotel, Swiss International, Hotel Sarowar, Airport Hotel, Hotel Baishali, Summit Residency Hotel, Hotel Marsyangdi, Platinum Hotel, Hotel Manang, Hotel Landmark, Hotel Moonlight, Hotel Sabrina, Hotel Landmark, Hotel Kamal are available in Kathmandu and Pokhara for quarantining the Nepali returnees. The tourist standard hotels including CG Group of Hotels, Vivanta Kathmandu, Lapha Hotel, Hotel Readers Inn, Hotel Everest Mount Holiday, Mirage Lords Inn, Hotel Yambu, Hotel Family Home, Shiva Shankar Hotel, Hotel River, Landmark Forest Park in Kathmandu and Chitwan have also offered their services for the returnee Nepalis.
Likewise, Dreamland Gold Resort at Rupandehi and Park Village in Kathmandu are also available for the quarantine service. The rate of the hotel rooms starts from Rs 2,000 inclusive of four meals a day and the rate can vary depending on the grading of the hotels.
The government has started evacuating migrant Nepali workers from yesterday. The government has made it mandatory for the migrant Nepalis to be quarantined once they reach Nepal. Those who want to and are able to afford the hotel arrangements can use the available hotels for their quarantine, according to the CCMC.
HAN offered their help as the hotels across the country remain shut – from March 24 onwards – due to lockdown because of the Covid-19 outbreak across the world. The travel restrictions imposed across the country have also affected the hotel industry.