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Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring, Nepal
Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring Nepal1
-Sharpening the COVID-19 Response through Communications Intelligence
Date: 28 January 2022
Kathmandu, Nepal
EMERGING THEME(S)
• Nepal reported 8 017 new COVID-19 cases, 15 deaths on 27 January; rate of COVID-19 infection was recorded at
41.5% on 26 January, 5% lower than a day earlier; 790 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Gandaki Province on 26
January; hospital stay of COVID-19-infected has reduced to 5-7 days in third wave as compared to a minimum of 8 days
in previous 2 waves
• Due to shortage of Vero Cell doses, vaccine advisory committee has advised the government to administer a different
vaccine as booster dose to those whose second dose was administered 6 months ago; Nepal is ahead of all South
Asian countries in terms of vaccination against COVID-19
• Omicron-induced immunity could neutralize Delta variant making re-infections with Delta less likely, according to an
Indian Council of Medical Research study stressing on the need for Omicron-specific vaccine strategy; person who is
vaccinated and infected with COVID-19 develops super immunity, according an Oregon Health and Science University
research; scientists around the world keeping an eye on stealth version of Omicron detected in 40 countries
RECURRING THEME(S)
• Association of the Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal to send 3 500 000 pills of Cetamol to the market by 28 January;
National Innovation Center is distributing 3 000 pills of Cetamol free of cost to health posts of rural areas
• Chief District Officers of Kathmandu Valley districts to review odd-even number plate rule after drawing public flak for
the move
1This intelligence is tracked through manually monitoring national print, digital and online media through a representative sample selection,
and consultations with media persons and media influencers.
WHE Communications Intelligence 2ISSUE(S) IN FOCUS The national active COVID-19 caseload of Nepal climbed to 90 576 on 27 January as 8 017 people tested positive for the infection in the past 24 hours. The latest reported number of infections carried the nationwide tally to 939 267, while the death toll reached 11 687 as 15 fatalities were recorded. Nepal's COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 89.1%, while the fatality rate stands at 1.4%.2 The rate of COVID-19 infection in Nepal was recorded at 41.5% in the past 24 hours on 26 January — the infection rate reduced by 5% as compared to the previous day.3 As many as 790 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Gandaki Province on 26 January. The newly-infected people are from Gorkha, Kaski, Myagdi, Syangja, Lamjung, Parbat and Baglung among other districts.4 Dr Manisha Rawal, Director of Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku said the COVID-19 infection has spread in the community, so the next 1 month will be challenging for us. But no serious complications are seen due to the Omicron variant at present unlike the infection caused by the Delta variant. The admission rate of the infected is low, and even the need for the oxygen by those admitted is less, she added.5 The hospital stay of COVID-19 infected, except for people with underlying health conditions, has shortened since the beginning of the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the country, according to Dr Niraj Bam of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. In the past, the infected had to stay in the hospital for at least 8 days, but they are being discharged within 5 to 7 days at present, he informed.6 Senior pulmonologist Dr Santa Kumar Das has claimed that nearly 80% of the population residing in core city areas of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur districts has been infected with the Omicron variant of coronavirus. He has based his claims on the speed of the spread of the infection in the past 2 weeks in Kathmandu Valley. Many people visit doctors — some 2 THT Online 3 Nagarik 4 The Himalayan Times 5 Setopati 6 Nayapatrika WHE Communications Intelligence 3
have not tested for COVID-19 despite showing symptoms. It is possible that 80% of staff at hospitals, which include doctors, nurses, sanitation and other workers, have been infected with Omicron. The infection will start to decline here in the next 5-7 days as the chain of infection might break, he said but added that the infection is spreading to the rural areas. The infection will possibly increase outside of the Valley in the next 2 weeks, he said.7 The vaccine advisory committee of the government has advised the government to administer different vaccines as booster dose to people whose second dose was administered 6 months ago. The advice has come following the shortage of Vero Cell vaccine for the booster dose. The government had instructed the same vaccine be administered as booster dose as the ones taken earlier.8 The Lalitpur Metropolitan City has postponed its plan to administer the booster dose of Vero Cell vaccine to the people above the age of 60 from 28 January for now. The decision has been made as the government has not made the vaccine available to it, it has said.9 The Pfizer vaccine is being administered to children aged 12 to 17, who missed the dose earlier, from 2 hospitals of Kathmandu from 27 January. The hospitals include Birendra Army Hospital, Chhauni, and Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, Thapathali.10 Nepal is ahead of all the South Asian countries in terms of vaccination against COVID-19. The government has aimed to vaccinate all citizens above 18 years by mid-April and has so far provided the first dose of the vaccine to 71% population. Similarly, the percentage of people receiving the second dose of vaccine is 61. With effective management and administration of COVID-19 vaccine along with necessary public awareness and expansion of vaccine centers, Nepal has secured the top position in South Asia. Currently even the booster dose is being administered to those working at the frontline and employees in essential sectors. So far, 223 944 persons have received the booster dose.11 An Indian Council of Medical Research study has demonstrated that individuals infected with Omicron have significant immune response which could neutralize not only the Omicron, but also other variants of concern, including the most prevalent Delta 7 Setopati 8 Ratopati 9 Ratopati 10 Baarhakhari 11 Rastriya Samachar Samiti (in The Himalayan Times) WHE Communications Intelligence 4
variant. It suggests that the immune response induced by the Omicron could effectively neutralize the Delta variant, making the re-infections with Delta variant less likely, thereby displacing the Delta as dominant strain, the study said emphasizing upon the need for Omicron-specific vaccine strategy.12 A new research from the Oregon Health and Science University has found that a major immune response occurs if a person has been both vaccinated and infected with COVID-19. Such people tend to develop super immunity, the research has shown.13 Scientists and health officials around the world are keeping their eyes on a descendant of the Omicron variant that has been found in at least 40 countries, including the United States. This version of the coronavirus, which scientists call BA.2 is widely considered stealthier than the original version of Omicron because particular genetic traits make it somewhat harder to detect. Scientists worry it could also be more contagious.14 The Association of the Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal will send 3 500 000 pills of Cetamol to the market by 28 January. Biplav Adhikari, General Secretary of the Association informed that they are making preparations to send the pills to the market and also claimed that the demand for the Cetamol is high in the market, but there is no shortage as such. He also said they won’t allow the shortage to be seen in the market at any cost.15 The National Innovation Center has started distributing Cetamol free of cost to health posts of rural areas — it will provide a maximum of 3 000 pills each to such health posts.16 The Chief District Administration Officers (CDOs) of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur are set to discuss the odd-even number plate system in vehicles implemented on 28 January following the criticism of the move. The system was implemented 12 Press Trust of India (in The Himalayan Times) 13 Onlinekhabar 14 The Associated Press (in The Kathmandu Post) 15 Baarhakhari 16 Baarhakhari WHE Communications Intelligence 5
on 21 January to control the spread of COVID-19 infection. But the CDOs have opted to reevaluate the decision after criticism
from different sectors that the move had aided crowding increasing the risk of infection. 17
OTHER(S)
National News
COVID-19: PREVENTIVE MEASURES & SUSPENSION OF SERVICES
Keeping in mind the fast spreading COVID-19 infection, District Administration Office Rautahat has told the people to obtain
vaccination card to avail government services. The DAO has also made face mask mandatory at public places. The
administration added that all government and non-government offices had to implement the decision.18
All services except for emergency services have been suspended by the District Administration Office Dolakha, after its staff
tested positive for COVID-19.19
The Rapti-sonari Rural Municipality of Banke has suspended all its service except for emergency services after its staff tested
positive for COVID-19.20
Five out of 13 local levels of Kailali have shut down all their services except for the emergency services after some of their staff
tested positive for COVID-19.21
17
Setopati
18
The Himalayan Times
19
Nayapatrika
20
Nagarik
21
Setopati
WHE Communications Intelligence 6The decision on whether schools across the nation will be reopened after 29 January will be made only after a discussion with the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center and the state of the infection, said Deepak Sharma, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology.22 The number of confirmed active COVID-19 cases in Nepal stands at 90 067 as the super contagious variant spreads like wildfire. After testing positive, health experts say most people will only experience mild symptoms as people isolate themselves at home. Dr Bhawana Amatya of CIWEC Hospital giving the 6 Ms of safe isolation as suggested against the mixing of the infected with the uninfected, monitoring tools to be kept in the isolation room, also keep necessary medicines in the room like paracetamol and decongestants, a healthy diet rich in protein is absolute for meals along with fluid intake, keep a healthy mindset, and as COVID-19 poses a risk for thromboembolism, when blood clots may form in the body if you stay at the same place for a long time; hence one should know when to move to the hospital.23 The health services of the healthcare institutions have been affected with an increase in COVID-19 infected in the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. All services except for emergency services of the government hospitals of Jhapa as well as the District Hospital of Darchula have been suspended after healthcare workers there tested positive for COVID-19. The OPD service at Beni Hospital of Myagdi has been shut down after doctors and other healthcare staff got infected with COVID-19. The health services of Bhimad Primary Health Center of Tanahun has been suspended after the staff there have tested positive for COVID-19.24 The government hospitals of Lumbini Province, that had played an important role in the control and treatment of COVID-19 during the first and second waves, are without leadership in the third wave. There are 25 hospitals under the Lumbini provincial government and no one is in the leadership position in 14 of these hospitals. The current chief minister removed the heads of the hospital appointed by the previous chief minister. As such the provincial government is being criticized for making the hospitals leader-less for political benefit at a time when the hospitals had to make preparations against the COVID-19 pandemic.25 It has been nearly 14 months since the upgradation of a primary health center in Charikot to a provincial hospital. But no human resources needed for the hospital's operation have been sent yet. The task to set up the oxygen plant, keeping in view 22 Baahrakhari 23 The Kathmandu Post 24 Nayapatrika 25 Setopati WHE Communications Intelligence 7
the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, but the plant has not come into operation yet. There are 5 ventilators, 2-bed PCU, 5- bed ICU, and 5-bed HDU rooms in the hospital — out of them only the HDU has come into operation. The hospital, despite having sufficient equipment, has been unable to render services due to poor management. 26 The Supreme Court (SC) had given different orders to the government during the first and the second waves of COVID-19 pandemic to control the spread of infection. But the government is disinterested in following and implementing those orders though the country is already facing the third wave of the pandemic. The SC had ordered the government to make the PCR tests free of cost last year, but the public are forced to pay exorbitant fees for the same until today. Likewise, it has also ordered the government not to let the shortage of medicine be seen before the beginning of the third wave. But the public are still facing the shortage of medicines including Cetamol.27 The Metropolitan Police Division Kathmandu has arrested 4 people for selling fake masks. 28 Two healthcare assistants working at a primary health center in Mahottari have been arrested for taking bribes to administer the vaccine against COVID-19. They have been accused of taking Rs 20 000 after administering Johnson & Johnson vaccine to a person.29 The Sigdi Community Homestay of Baglung has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The homestay, which had come into operation 2 years ago, had to be shut down within 9 months of its operation due to the pandemic and has not reopened. The main operator of the homestay has opted to change into another profession amidst the COVID-19 fear.30 26 Kantipur 27 Nayapatrika 28 Onlinekhabar 29 Baahrakhari 30 Onlinekhabar WHE Communications Intelligence 8
International News The World Health Organization said there were 21 million new coronavirus cases reported globally last week, the highest weekly number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the pandemic began. The number of deaths was largely unchanged, at more than 50 000. In its weekly assessment of the pandemic, issued late on 25 January, the UN health agency said the number of new coronavirus infections rose by 5% and that the rate of increase appears to be slowing; only half of regions reported an increase in COVID-19.31 A coronavirus-hit Australian warship docked in Tonga on 26 January, delivering desperately needed aid to the volcano-and- tsunami-struck nation under strict “no contact” protocols. Tongan Health Minister Saia Piukala said the crew of the HMAS Adelaide would follow drastic health protocols to ensure the remote Pacific kingdom remains one of the few places in the world still free of COVID-19. The warship is carrying about 80 tons of relief supplies. Despite all crew members testing negative before departing Brisbane, officials in Canberra on 25 January said 23 coronavirus cases had been detected in the vessel. 32 Hong Kong may not reopen until early 2024 because of its strict COVID-19 policies, which could trigger an exodus of foreign firms and staff and jeopardize the city’s role as a financial hub, its European Chamber of Commerce said in a draft report. 33 Two years after Japan locked down its borders to block the coronavirus, some 150 000 foreign students still aren’t able to enter the country, left in limbo by a policy that has disrupted lives and caused headaches for universities and businesses. The absence of the foreign students and researchers is being felt from big laboratories to small, private universities, highlighting the importance of overseas talent — and their tuition fees — as Japan grapples with a shrinking population.34 31 The Associated Press (in The Himalayan Times) 32 Agence France Presse (in The Himalayan Times) 33 Reuters (in The Himalayan Times) 34 Reuters (in The Kathmandu Post) WHE Communications Intelligence 9
Veteran rocker Neil Young fired off a public missive to his management on 24 January demanding that they remove his music
from Spotify in protest of Joe Rogan spreading misinformation about eh COVID-19 vaccine on his popular podcast The Joe
Rogan Experience.35
Most countries have made little to no progress in bringing down corruption levels over the past decade, and authorities’
response to the COVID-19 pandemic in many places has weighed on accountability, a closely watched study by an anti-graft
organization found on 25 January.36
35
The Associated Press (in The Himalayan Times)
36
The Associated Press (in The Kathmandu Post)
WHE Communications Intelligence 10Contacts for further details Ms Tsering Dolkar Gurung NPO (Communication, Media, and Public Information) World Health Organization, Country Office for Nepal Gurungt@who.int WHO’s COVID-19 response in Nepal is made possible through the generous support of the Government of Canada. Reference Code: 22JAN28MM_121 WHE Communications Intelligence 11
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