KATHMANDU, JANUARY 11

Experts say that the government needs to intensify its efforts to contain the rapid spread of COVID to avoid lockdown, as another lockdown will be suicidal for the economy, which is yet to shake off adverse effects of the two previous lockdowns.

Epidemiologist and public health expert Sujan Babu Marhatta said if the government failed to tackle the surge of COVID, then it would have no option but to impose another lockdown.

He said all those entering Nepal via land must undergo antigen test at entry points and those testing positive should undergo PCR test. He said the government should also intensify vaccination drive and fully vaccinate maximum number of people.

'The Omicron variant of COVID is relatively milder than the Delta variant, but those who have not received any vaccine are being hospitalised with serious conditions,' he added.

He said if a large percentage of unvaccinated people got infected, hospitals could be overwhelmed. He advocated effective coordination between private and government hospitals. 'As few people needed hospitalisation in the last few months, hospitals should ensure that the equipment used for COVID treatment is in running condition,' he added. He stressed that the government should ensure strict adherence to health protocols.

Marhatta said surge in COVID transmission pointed towards community spread of the virus. 'The government needs to improve its testing capacity,' he added.

In 11 days, the number of COVID cases in the country has seen a six-fold rise in the number of infections.

The number of COVID cases has gone up from 342 on January 1 to 1,981 today.

Former director of the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Department of Health, Baburam Marasini said government authorities should not have allowed three major political parties to hold their general conventions openly.

'I am sure these events caused the recent surge in COVID cases. All participants should have undergone PCR tests and those testing positive could have attended the general convention virtually,' he added.

He claimed that instead of intensifying the vaccination drive, the government went slow on it leading to a surge in cases.

Assistant Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population Samir Kumar Adhikari said the government was better prepared for the third COVID wave, but if the containment measures did not succeed and the pandemic spread at the community level, then any level of preparedness could be inadequate.

Adhikari said if the surge continued frontline health workers could also contract the disease, adversely impacting the government's efforts to provide care to COVID patients.

He said the government would only impose smart lockdown, if needed.

Adhikari said anti-vaxxers and fence sitters were making containment efforts difficult.

The government has a target of vaccinating around 20 million population above 18 years of age by mid-April. According to Adhikari, 67 per cent of the targeted population have received their first jab, whereas 57 per cent people have received both doses of the vaccine.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 12, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.