Public health experts say that the authorities must utilise the period to expand testing and contact tracing and devise short- and long-term strategies.
Districts including those in Kathmandu Valley may have been under strict restrictions, but unless authorities fully utilise this period to increase tests and ensure contact tracing and pull out all the stops, it could be yet another opportunity squandered, public health experts say.
Multiple doctors the Post spoke to said that the virus has taken hold in the community and that an effective contact tracing is the only way to break the transmission chain.
“We all know a lockdown or restriction for an indefinite period is not possible. Nor is it a solution to the pandemic,” said Dr Madhu Devkota, a professor at the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University. “We have to prepare.”
According to Devkota, the past lockdown is an example of how the government failed in the fight against the virus.
“The lockdown was imposed in haste and lifted without any planning,” said Devkota. “We are facing the consequences now.”
According to the Health Ministry, 92 new cases were reported in a week in the Valley after the lockdown ended on July 21. The number of new infections reported on August 4 was 251 (the second week); 587 on August 11 (third week); and 1,027 on August 18 (fourth week).
On Thursday, when the Valley returned to lockdown with strict restrictions imposed, 200 new cases were reported. The Valley’s Covid-19 tally now has reached 2,316. The country as of Thursday has reported 29,645 positive cases, including 126 deaths.
Death rate too has increased more than threefold in recent weeks.
Eighteen people had died until August 4—in two weeks since the end of the lockdown on July 21, but 56 people succumbed to the virus from August 5 to August 18 (two weeks).
Experts say what is concerning is cases are now doubling in a week or less in the Valley. Kathmandu is one of the most densely populated areas in the country, with a huge mobility of people.
An official at the Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre told the Post that Kathmandu Valley is facing a very serious situation.
“The case doubling time has come down to a week. The virus is spreading fast in densely populated areas,” said the official requesting anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media. “And our health facilities are very poor.”
As per prohibitory orders issued for the Valley by district administrators, which came in effect on Wednesday midnight, people are not allowed to come out of homes unless for buying medicines and other essentials. Vehicular movements have been banned and shops other than those providing essential goods and medicines will remain closed.
Source: Kathmandu Post