Kathmandu: Nepal is slowly out from the risk of the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic as the number of cases is on a decline. The infection rate has declined as a large number of the population has already developed antibodies against Covid-19, say experts.
“In the third wave of the pandemic, the Omicron variant of Covid-19 spread like a wildfire. Also, the government has been aggressively inoculating people against Covid-19,” said Dr Baburam Marasini, former director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.
As of Saturday, 60 percent of the population has already got vaccinated against Covid-19.
The number of daily Covid-19 cases, on January 20, was recorded at 12,338. Exactly after a month, the number of cases, on Saturday, was recorded at 350.
Unlike in the second wave, the hospitalization rate is low. Although the number of cases was recorded at an average of over 7,000 daily, the number of patients requiring medical attention was low.
“The Omicron variant is infectious compared to the Delta variant. Looking at the declining number of cases, Nepal currently seems to be out of the risk from the third wave,” he said, “However, people need to be cautious.”
After the cases declined, the government has already eased restrictions imposed to curb the infection.
When asked why the number of Covid-19-related deaths has not declined, he said, “Because of the Delta variant. Of the total cases, 10-15 percent is an infection caused by the Delta variant, which is far more infectious than the Omicron variant.”
Talking further, he also said that the number of cases in Nepal increases when cases surge in India, and vice versa. “As Covid-19 cases are declining in India, it has a direct impact in Nepal too,” he added.
According to Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, a virologist, the number of Covid-19-related deaths is still constant.
“Unvaccinated people are still at risk. And the majority of deaths due to Covid-19 are either unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated,” said Pun.
“Although Nepal is out from the risk of the third wave, people should be cautious and follow health safety protocols, and get vaccinated,” he suggested.
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