KATHMANDU, MAY 3

The second wave of Covid-19 pandemic has struck Nepal evidently as daily reported infections rising exponentially every passing day. On Sunday, the country crossed the mark of highest intraday cases, which was early recorded on October 21, 2020 when 5,743 cases were logged, with record 7,137 cases.

It is apparent that the infections are spreading very fast during this second wave as compared to the first wave. The case is more so in the some districts such as the three in the Kathmandu valley -- Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur -- and in districts that have adjoining border with India including Chitwan, Kaski, Banke, Rupandehi, Dang, Surkhet, Kailali, Parsa, Morang, which have active cases higher than 500.

With increasing daily infections, the number of deaths related with Covid-19 is also increasing in the country.

The above graph shows the number of Covid-19 deaths recorded in the period of April 01 till May 02.

It can be observed that the number of deaths in the first week of April was relatively less significant, in some days the deaths even dropped to zero. But the number then abruptly increased on April 12 which recorded deaths in double digit with as many as 13 fatalities.

Over the period of a month, the country, which was gradually recording zero deaths due to Covid-19, saw the highest number of fatalities ever detected on April 29, as 35 Covid-19-realted fatalities were recorded that day.

The graph indicates that though the number of deaths is fluctuating over the days, the rise in accumulated number of fatalities over a month is apparent.

However, if we check the death rate (total deaths by total positive cases) over this period, it can be seen to be declining. The rate during the first half of the month is constant at 1.09%, which then gradually falls to 0.99%. The difference is 0.1% less in the period of a month.

With the sharp upward spike in infections, hospitals across the country have been struggling to manage the heavy influx of Covid patients leading to a shortage of beds and oxygen in many hotspots, including the capital.

The Ministry of Health itself reported on Thursday that it is next to impossible for the hospitals to manage beds in as many as 22 districts.

In faraway districts of Sudur Pashchim, which share open border with India, authorities are unable to manage enough tests kits at border points in a bid to track and isolate the infected from among the returnee migrant workers.

The antigen tests that are performed are difficult to validate and the districts here don't have PCR machine to carry out valid tests.

Public health experts have been warning the government that the death rate may escalate further in coming days if the situation, which is worsening by the day, is not addressed while some time still remains.

Compiled by Kriti Joshi