KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 17
The Ministry of Health and Population has decided to inoculate people above the age of 60 from March 7. MoHP Spokesperson Jageshwor Gautam disclosed this at a press briefing here today.
The government plans to inoculate 2,652,258 people above 60 years of age, which is 8.73 per cent of Nepal's population, according to Samir Adhikari, assistant spokesperson for the health ministry.
As many as 263,486 people have so far been inoculated across the country.
As per the ministry's data, the coronavirus disease has infected 27,753 people aged above 60, of which 1,269 have died.
Meanwhile, health authorities today diagnosed 125 new cases of coronavirus infection across Nepal, including 60 in Kathmandu valley. With this, the country's COVID caseload has reached 273,070, including 269,394 recoveries, 1,621 active cases, and 2,055 deaths.
Of those testing positive for the contagion in the valley today, 45 are from Kathmandu, nine from Lalitpur, and six from Bhaktapur. The number of active cases in Kathmandu valley is 1,049 - 996 in Kathmandu, 34 in Lalitpur, and 19 in Bhaktapur.
Of the others diagnosed with the disease today, 16 are from Kaski, 13 from Chitwan, seven from Jumla, five from Bardiya, three each from Morang and Kailali, two each from Kavrepalanchowk and Tanahun, and one each from Taplejung, Dolakha, Makawanpur, Sindhupalchowk, Gorkha, Myagdi, Syangja, Gulmi, and Banke.
According to the ministry, 91 COVID patients recovered in the past 24 hours across Nepal.
So far, 98.7 per cent of COVID patients have recovered in the country.
As many as 30,264 COVID patients have recovered in Province 1, 20,592 in Province 2, 148,212 in Bagmati, 18,603 in Gandaki, 30,415 in Lumbini, 6,474 in Karnali, and 14,834 in Sudurpaschim.
Bhojpur, Solukhumbu, Mustang, Mugu, Rukum (West), and Achham have no active COVID case.
The ministry added that 61 COVID patients were under intensive care - one in Province 1, 26 in Bagmati, seven in Gandaki, 24 in Lumbini, and three in Karnali.
As many as 13 COVID patients are on ventilator support - seven in Bagmati, two in Gandaki, and three in Lumbini.
No death from coronavirus was reported for the second consecutive day today, the health ministry said.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 18, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
