The fast spread of the coronavirus cannot be controlled unless the people strictly follow the health protocols
With the rising cases of the coronavirus, including new variant of Omicron, the government has told all the government and private hospitals to fully prepare for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Till date, 24 cases of Omicron variant have been detected across the country. A meeting of the COVID-19 Control and Management Centre (CCMC) held on Friday has decided to impose 'smart lockdown' in case the infection rate surges in the country. The growing infection of Omicron has put the government on high alert. When the second wave of the COVID-19, known as Delta virus, hit hard the country in April and May, all the hospitals were struggling with short-supply of oxygen, ventilators and hospital beds. However, the short-supply of the logistics needed for coping with the COVID-19 was overcome with the prompt help from various countries. All the hospitals are now ready to provide health services to the COVID-19 patients as they have developed infrastructure for the last seven months. However, there will still be a shortage of human resources should the COVID-19 infection rise as in the second wave.
In the last seven months the government has designated 78 government health institutions to deal with the COVID-19. Private hospitals are also providing health services. As per the Ministry of Health and Population, there are 8,202 isolation beds, 3,846 High Dependency Units (HDU) beds, 2,797 ICU beds, 1,008 ventilators, 13,939 Oxygen cylinders, 693 concentrators, 48 oxygen plants in ready state. In the Kathmandu Valley alone, there are 2,494 isolation beds, 324 HDU beds, 445 ICU beds and 254 ventilators. All the public and private hospitals have been put on high alert and the health ministry has told doctors and health workers to be fully prepared for it.
Although the Omicron variant is said to be less severe than the Delta one, health officials have warned that high rate of infection would create pressure on the health institutions. The fast spread of Omicron cannot be controlled unless the people strictly follow the health protocols. The ministry should also focus on increasing the vaccination coverage, surveillance and have the people adhere to the health protocols.
Omicron control measures should be found in community, not in the hospitals. Meanwhile, the government has decided to give third dose of vaccine to frontliners and senior citizens above 60 years of age from second week of January. As of Saturday, 49.5 per cent or 15, 037, 655 of the total population have received single dose of vaccine while 36.6 per cent or 11, 111, 468 people have received the double dose.
Under the first phase, the frontliners and senior citizens will receive the third dose of the same brand of the first and second dose. The most important thing is to follow the health protocols. The coronavirus infection surged due to the large political gatherings of major political parties in recent times. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has been in self-isolation for three days while CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has tested positive for COVID-19.
Other Maoist leaders who attended its 8th general convention are in contract tracing. So, the political leaders should set an example by avoiding large gathering to keep the virus at bay.
Voter registration
There has been huge enthusiasm in registering new voter list in all districts as local level election is nearing. The Election Offices in all the districts are busy in registering new voters. As per the law, a person who has attained 18 years of age and has obtained the citizenship certificate is eligible for voting in all tiers of elections. Cadres of all the political parties have also intensified their campaigns to have the young people register their names in the voters' list.
Once one's name is registered with the voters' list, one can verify his or her name online.
A report from Manang, the least populated Himali district in the country, reported that as many as 263 new voters were registered under the voter registration campaign launched by the District Election Office.
Voter list is also being collected from the Election Office and District Administration Office. The Manang Election Office said the highest numbers of new voters were women who stay put at their villages.
The importance of getting one's name registered in voters list is that s/he can choose a candidate s/he likes in the local, provincial and parliamentary elections, which should be held within six months to one year as per the schedule.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 10, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
