KATHMANDU, June 27 :The total number of Corona Virus cases in the Sudur Pachim State has reached 1,859, with 221 new cases confirmed on Friday.
Of them, 186 were confirmed positive in the test carried out in the National Public Health Laboratory, Kathmandu and 35 at the lab of the Seti State Hospital, Dhangadi, according to the Health Division of the Social Development Ministry.

The new cases have been reported in Kailali (37), Kanchanpur (44), Doti (71), Dadeldhura (0ne), Darchula (three), Bajhang (nine), Bajura (27), Baitedi (25) and Accham (two), according to Chief of the Division Narendra Singh Karki. Among the districts, the highest number of cases so far has been reported in Kailali with 553 cases.

Of the 119,761 tests carried out through both PCR and RDT method, only 15,319 has been carried out through the relatively reliable PCR method. The only laboratory in the State located at the Seti State Hospital has not been able to carry out enough PCR tests for lack of required tools, human resources as well as capacity of the testing machine. As a result, swab samples are being sent to the capital.
Meanwhile, of the infected, 68 returned home on Friday after recovery. So far, 528 people have recovered. RSS

KATHMANDU, June 18: The death toll from COVID-19 has reached 22 in Nepal after two more deaths were confirmed on Thursday.

Both the deceased patients are from Kailali district, according to the Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr. Jageshwar Gautam.

A 46-year-old male from Gowadari municipality-4 and a 43-year-old female from Lamkichula-2 have died of the virus.

The male was taken to Nawajeev Hospital on June 13 after his health deteriorated. After he tested positive for the virus, he was shifted to Seti Provincial Hospital. He died there on June 17, shared Gautam.

The female was admitted to Nepalgunj Medical College in Kohalpur after she suffered from subdural hematoma. Her swab sample was collected for COVID-19 test on June 16 and sent to Bheri Hospital Laboratory before surgery. She died next day before her result came. She tested positive on June 17,” he informed.

The total cases in Nepal has reached 7848 after the ministry confirmed 671 more infections in the last 24 hours. This is the record high number of infections reported in Nepal.

The virus has spread to 74 districts.

KATHMANDU, June 17: Youths took to the streets of the capital on Wednesday as well protesting the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, government’s lackluster response to COVID-19 pandemic, corruption and the Office of President’s spending Rs 10 million in carpets as part of its renovation works during the crisis.

For the past few days, the youths have buzzed the streets in major cities across the country defying the lockdown orders and restrictions in mass gatherings against the government’s activities.

The protest flared after Prime Minister K P Sharma refused to furnish the details of the billions of rupees the government claimed to have spent in the COVID-19 response.

Following the pressure for financial transparency, Prime Minister’s Press Advisor Surya Thapa, in his Facebook page, shared a surface detail of Rs 8.39 billion the government spent in the fight against the pandemic, which according to Thapa, was revealed as per the decision of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center Directorate Committee. But the information lacks authenticity as the it does not reveal who prepared the expenditure details.

The protesters are also unhappy with the government’s performance to the COVID-19 as the cases continues to surge in the country while quarantine facilities are sub-standard and has become the potential source of infection and cause of deaths. The safety women patients in the quarantine facilities have also been questioned after a woman was gang-raped in a facility set up at Shahid Smriti Secondary School in Lamki Chuha Municipality-1 of Kailali district on Saturday night.

Moreover, they have also demanded the government halt the unreliable RDT tests and expand the PRC testings.

At a time when the government is facing criticism for its incompetence in dealing the pandemic, delay in procurement of testing and protective kits, misuse of funds while the entire country goes through the hardships of crisis, the government’s decision to renovate the Office of President spending around Rs 18 million in carpet replacement and toilet renovation has put the youths out of their house and into the streets with the slogan ‘Enough is enough’.

Here are some photos of the youth demonstrations in Koteshwor captured by Reporters’ Club photo journalist Mukunda Kalikote.

NEPALGUNJ, June 17:  The death toll from novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nepal has reached 20 after a woman who died on Monday evening tested positive for the virus.

The 46-year-old woman from Baijanath rural municipality-6 of Banke district died while receiving treatment at the Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital.

She was admitted to hospital on June 10 after she suffered from breathing complications, according to the hospital.

Her swab samples have tested positive for the virus.

This is the second death in Banke district. Earlier, on May 17, a 25-year-old male patient from Narainapur rural municipality had died in quarantine. His infection was also confirmed after his death.

KATHMANDU, June 16: The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed 380 more infections on Tuesday as Nepal total COVID-19 cases climbed to 6591.

Of the total infected, 6092 are males and 499 are females.

Meanwhile, a total of 117 infected have returned home following recovery from various isolation centers in the country. The discharged include 109 male and eight female, according to ministry Spokesperson Dr. Jageshwar Gautam.

According to the ministry sources, so far 143,738 PCR tests and 223,519 RDT tests have been undertaken across the country. As many as 133,009 people are being quarantined and 5,531 are staying in isolation facilities throughout the country.

KATHMANDU, June 15: The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed 451 more infection on Monday as Nepal’s coronavirus cases climbed to 6,211.

Of the total infected, 5,740 are males and 47 are females, said Dr Jageshwar Gautam during a regular press briefing today.

Gautam also said 68 more patients were discharged after recovery in the last 24 hours. The total number of patients to have recovered has reached 1041. Of them, 937 are males and 104 are females.

Nepal has reported 19 deaths from the virus.

KATHMANDU, June 14: The government has decided to allow the private laboratories to conduct tests for COVID-19, according the Ministry of Health and Population.

“Arrangements have been made to allow the private labs to conduct the COVID-19 tests of the swab samples that are approved by the Health Ministry, said ministry Spokesperson at Dr. Jageshwar Gautam during a regular press briefing on Sunday.

Gautam also said that the expenses of the tests will be born by the government.

KATHMANDU, June 14: The death toll from COVID-19 has reached 19 in Nepal after a patient died last night, the Ministry of Health and Population said.

A 36-year-old male from Dhurkot municipality-4 of Gulmi district has died while undergoing treatment in isolation in Resunga municipality on Saturday. He was diagnosed with coronavirus on May 25. He had returned from India on May 15. He was a cancer patient, said ministry Spokesperson Dr. Jageshwar Gautam.

The ministry also confirmed 435 new infections today as the total cases in Nepal climbed to 5,760.

Of the total cases today, 76 are from Rautahat, 54 are from Dang, 40 are from Surkhet, 29 from Dailekh, 26 from Rupandehi, 25 each from Morang and Dhading, 24 from Dadeldhura, 20 from Kanchanpur, 17 each from Palpa and Parsa, 12 from Kailali, 10 from Saptari, nine from Bara, eight from Gulmi, six from Sarlahi, five from Bajhang, three each from Doti, Bardiya and Banke, two each from Nawalparasi East, Pyuthan, Ramechhap and Nawalparasi West and one each from Sunsari, Jhapa, Rukum West, Dhanusha and Sindhuli, according to Gautam.

The virus has now spread across 73 districts.

According to Gautam, 61 patients were discharged after recovery in the last 24 hours. The total number of patients to have recovered has now reached 974.

KATHMANDU, June 13: The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed two more deaths on Saturday as virus death toll in Nepal reached 18.

According to ministry Spokesperson Dr. Jageshwar Gatuam, a five-year-old child and a male of around 25 years have died of coronavirus disease in the last 24 hours.

“The child from Nijgadh of Bara district was brought to Birgunj Health Care Hospital on Friday after he suffered from breathing complications. After he tested positive through RDT, he was kept in isolation for further treatment. His swab was sent to Narayani Hospital lab for test.  But he passed away before his results arrived. He has tested positive,” said Gautam.

“The 25-year-old male was found dead in Birjung metropolitan of Parsa district on June 10. His body was sent for postmortem at Narayani Hospital where his swab sample was also examined for the COVID-19. He tested positive,” he informed.

Devkota also confirmed 273 more infections, taking Nepal’s total cases to 5,335.

Of the total infected patients, 4,949 are males and 386 are females.

Of today infected, 92 cases are from Rautahat, 40 cases are from Surkhet, 28 are from Dailekh, 25 are from Kapilvastu, 18 are from Banke, 17 are from Rolpa, 13 are from Sarlahi, six each from Parsa and Bardiya, five each from Jhapa and Rupandehi, four each from Morang and Parbat, two each from Dang and Gulmi, and one each from Bara, Nawalparasi West and Mahottari, according to Gautam.

The virus has spread to 72 districts in Nepal.

KATHMANDU, June 12: Despite restriction on public gatherings, hundreds of youths participated in peaceful protests in different parts of the Kathmandu Valley on Friday as well, demanding government’s accountability on billions of rupees spent on the COVID-19 pandemic response.

The government has claimed to have already spent Rs 10 billion in the fight against the pandemic that has now spread to 72 districts infecting more than 5,000 people and killing 16, but has refused to furnish the details of the expenditure it has spent on response and preparedness to the COVID-19.

But the reality suggests otherwise. The quarantine facilities are in rather poor condition and have become the potential source of coronavirus infection and cause of patient’s deaths. The government has excessively relied on inaccurate rapid diagnostic tests instead of widening the polymerase chain reaction tests that are in short supply. And, the misappropriation of funds in the procurement of COVID-19 combat materials and medical supplies go uninvestigated.

Anti-government protests continued today as well as youths organizing rallies in Basantapur, Kirtipur, Pepsicola, Suryabinayak and other parts demanding the government increase PCR tests, safer quarantine facilities and furnish the details of Rs 10 billion it spent on COVID-19 response.

The protests have also flared other cities like Dhulikhel, Butwal, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Chitwan, Hetauda and Birjung while other protest programs are on schedule in the coming days.

Here are some pictures of anti-government protests organized in Bhaktapur and Pepsicola captured by Reporters’ Club Nepal photo journalist Mukunda Kalikote.