Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring,

Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring Nepal1

-Sharpening the COVID-19 Response through Communications Intelligence Date: June 22, 2021 Kathmandu, Nepal

EMERGING THEME(S)

• Mutation of Delta variant — K417 N — detected in 9 out of 48 samples from Nepal sent to India for gene sequencing; delta variant found to be more dangerous than any other variant found till now, increases hospitalization of infected by 32 to 289 per cent • Third wave of COVID-19 could be deadlier for Nepal given the nation’s low vaccination coverage, lack of government preparedness, and complacency on both authorities’ and people’s part, say experts; 1,584 new COVID-19 cases, 46 fatalities recorded on June 21; Baglung recorded 305 new cases, highest in past 24 hours; 7 hill districts of Province 1 report zero new cases on June 19 and 20 • Experts warn that COVID-19 infections may surge again once the prohibitory orders are lifted

RECURRING THEME(S)

• Nation takes steps to reopen after almost 2 months of prohibitory orders; many districts to allow private vehicles on the roads on an odd-even number rule from June 22

1 This intelligence is tracked through manually monitoring national print, digital and online media through a representative sample selection, and consultations with media persons and media influencers.

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ISSUE(S) IN FOCUS

The mutation of the Delta variant — K417 N — has been detected in Nepal. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, the mutation was recorded in nine out of 48 samples sent for gene sequencing to India.2 The Delta variant of coronavirus first reported in India, has been found to be more dangerous than the Gama variant, first reported in Brazil, Beta variant reported in South Africa, and the Epsilon variant found in the USA. It has been found to be responsible for causing serious complications in COVID-19 infected people. The Delta variant has increased the possibility of an infected patient requiring hospitalization by 32 to 289 per cent as compared to the Alpha variant. However, if someone has taken both doses of vaccine, this has been found to give 80 per cent protection against this virus.3 The World Health Organization on June 20 called upon countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region to scale up and implement public health and social measures rigorously and boost the accelerated vaccine rollout in a bid to prevent another surge of COVID-19 as more countries have confirmed the prevalence of highly transmissible variants. We need to continuously strengthen our efforts to test, trace and isolate. Societal interventions such as physical distancing, handwashing and proper use of masks need to be stringently implemented, according to Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director at WHO South-East Asia.4

Experts say the third wave of COVID-19 could be deadlier for Nepal given the low vaccination coverage and complacency on the part of the government agencies as well as the public. The tendency to BE complacent just when there is more risk is the main problem, according to Dr Bhagwan Koirala, Chairman of Nepal Medical Council. Authorities should learn from their own experience and follow the science and start preparations accordingly, he said. While continuing with the lockdown is not a viable option, the third wave threat is just round the corner and authorities do not seem to be prepared, experts say, and that it could be more deadly due to a very low vaccine coverage and lack of seriousness on the preparation front.5

2 Baarhakhari 3 Nagarik 4 The Himalayan Times 5 The Kathmandu Post

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The fear of a health crisis has increased in areas affected by the floods and landslides amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, but the lack of coordination between the three levels of the government has made the problems more complicated, according to Dr Baburam Marasini, a public health expert.6 Nepal's COVID-19 caseload reached 622,640 on June 21 with 1,584 more people testing positive for the infection in the past 24 hours. In the past 24 hours, 46 more COVID-19-related fatalities were added taking the total death toll to 8,772. The COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 89.9 per cent, while the fatality rate stands at 1.5 per cent.7 Baglung has recorded the highest number of cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours — the infection was confirmed in 305 people.8 The number of COVID-19 cases came down to zero in seven hill districts of Province 1 — Sankhuwasabha, Ilam, Tehrathum, Panchthar, Taplejung, Solukhumbu, and Khotang. These districts recorded no positive cases on June 19 and 20, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.9 The Madhyapur Thimi Municipality of Bhaktapur decided to conduct an Antigen test on 10,000 people on a single day to identify the risk of COVID-19 in the community. It aimed to test at least 1,100 people from each ward, but only 6.72 per cent tests have been conducted via this drive termed as Chinese model. A total of 672 people have done the Antigen tests — this includes data of all nine wards.10

Experts have pointed out that COVID-19 infections may surge in the country again when the prohibitory orders are lifted. According to Dr Biraj Kamracharya, a public health expert at Dhulikhel Hospital, the infection might increase after the orders are lifted, but the infection rate won’t be high like in the past. He pointed out that the infection rate is still increasing in some places and if the people from those places move to the urban areas when the prohibitory orders are lifted, then it can increase the infection. Stating that the prohibitory orders, that have restricted movement of people, is the major reason for the decrease in infection rate, Dr Krishna Prasad Paudel, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, warned that if the

6 Post 7 THT Online 8 Baarhakhari 9 Ratopati 10 Onlinekhabar

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restrictions are lifted immediately after the decrease in infection, then the infection rate might increase all of a sudden like it did the last year.11

The World Health Organization has said the COVID-19 infection rate above five per cent is high risk. However, the Nepal government has made a risky decision of relaxing the prohibitory orders when the infection rate is still above 22 per cent. The infection rate of Nepal on June 20 was 22.35 per cent. The government decided to allow private vehicles as well as more businesses to run from June 22 in .12

The Ministry of Health and Population has said though the prohibitory orders have been relaxed to an extent, the chain of COVID-19 infection has not been broken yet. The risk of COVID-19 infection is still there, so do not go out of houses unless it’s urgent, the MoHP has said. It has also urged the public to continue following the public health protocols.13

PROHIBITORY ORDERS

The prohibitory orders have been continued in three districts of Province 2 — Dhanusha, Mahottari, and Sarlahi — with some relaxations. Private vehicles will be allowed to operate in Dhanusha and Mahottari.14

The prohibitory orders will be relaxed in Rupandehi from June 22 —private vehicles will be allowed on the roads on an odd- even number basis.15

The prohibitory orders have been extended till June 28 in Kanchanpur — all vehicles, except for those providing essential services and those with permission, will not be allowed on the roads.16

The prohibitory orders have been extended for a week till June 28 in Banke, with some relaxations in place.17

11 Nagarik 12 Nayapatrika 13 Baarhakhari 14 Onlinekhabar 15 Onlinekhabar 16 Onlinekhabar

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The prohibitory orders have been extended till June 29 with some relaxations in place in Kaski.18

The prohibitory orders have been extended for a week till June 28 in Kapilvastu.19

The private vehicles will be allowed to ply on the basis of odd-even rule from June 22 in Parsa.20

The ride sharing services Tootle and Pathao that had suspended their services due to the prohibitory orders will be allowed to operate from June 22. They will operate their rides on the basis of odd-even rules.21

OTHER(S)

National News

People are finding it difficult to manage blood for their ailing kin due to the COVID-19 induced prohibitory orders. Likewise, there are less blood donation campaigns being held across the country, mostly due to the prohibitory orders as well as due to the floods and landslides of the ongoing monsoon season, as per Dibya Raj Poudel, Director of Nepal Redcross Society.22

More than 200 brick factories have been shut down in the country after the private and government construction works were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Out of 400 brick factories that had been closed during the first lockdown in the country, 200 have not come into operation yet, as per Mahendra Bahadur Chitrakar, President of Bricks Entrepreneurs’ Association.23

17 Baarhakhari 18 Baarhakhari 19 Ratopati 20 Onlinekhabar 21 Setopati 22 Kantipur

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The COVID-19 pandemic dealt a major blow to hundreds of recruitment agencies that supply Nepali youths to overseas companies and employers, the study ‘Rapid assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on private recruitment agencies’ has shown. It found that Nepal-based agencies suffered the impact of the pandemic on various aspects of their business operations, such as recruitment, deployment and the decline of labor demand from destination countries.24 The party palaces and catering service businesses have been hit hard by the lockdown and prohibitory orders, according to Krishna Prasad Pandey, Vice President of Federation of Nepal National Party Palace and Catering Entrepreneurs. Around 20 per cent of such entrepreneurs have been looking for alternatives to this business, while three per cent have already left this sector, as per Lila Bahadur GC, President of the Federation.25

Vegetables worth millions of rupees have gone to waste in Bhaktapur due to the COVID-19 induced prohibitory orders. The vegetables rotted in the fields after the farmers were unable to sell them. 26

Vice- Tourism Board (NTB) Chandra Rijal has said that they are preparing to bring a suitable budget for tourism entrepreneurs and laborers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The NTB is in the last stages of finalizing the budget, he informed.27

The Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City has put the health sector in priority in its policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year. It has put forth programs like management of medicines, infrastructure, equipment, and human resources needed for the control and containment of COVID-19.28

A senior citizen Chiranjibi Bas has filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court asking for an order to provide the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine to the senior citizens as soon as possible. Nearly 1,350,000 above the age of 65 have not got the second dose of vaccine against COVID-19.29

23 Setopati 24 The Kathmandu Post 25 Kantipur 26 Ratopati 27 Setopati 28 Baarhakhari

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President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has taken updates on the work being carried out for the control and containment of COVID-19 pandemic from the Minister for Health and Population Sher Bahadur Tamang. She pointed out that the vaccination campaign should be conducted on priority basis to save the lives of Nepalis from the pandemic during the briefing at the Shital Niwas.30

The COVID-19 vaccine doses have been taken to Manang via helicopter. The vaccine needed to inoculate the residents of Naso Rural Municipality had to be taken via helicopter after the Marsyangdi River flooded the area.31

The District Administration Office Lalitpur has requested all the government and public offices in the district to resume their regular services from June 22.32

The Lalitpur Metropolitan City has issued a directive related to the treatment of COVID-19 infected and relief programs opening the door for providing financial assistance to those who have died due to COVID-19 or have been infected with the virus.33

Internal affairs and law ministers of provincial governments have stressed the need for collective efforts to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic. There should be preparedness to avert any untoward incident caused by the infection.34

Tribhuvan University is planning to conduct all exams that had been postponed due to the increase in cases of COVID-19 infection within the month of Shrawan (August 16).35

Many people have been reaping the health benefits of yoga during the time of COVID-19 infection and after recovering from it, according to Dr Vasudev Upadhyay, Director at Department of Ayurveda and Alternative Medicine. Stating that none of the treatment systems is complete in itself, he stressed the need for a holistic approach in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. He

29 Onlinekhabar 30 Setopati 31 Ratopati 32 Baarhakhari 33 Setopati 34 Rastriya Samachar Samiti (in The Himalayan Times) 35 Baarhakhari

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argued that doctors should not hesitate to incorporate the positive aspects of ayurveda and yoga in the treatment system. Yoga is important to enhance the capacity of lungs and for good mental and physical health of COVID-19 patients, he added.36

The Dhading Hospital brought an oxygen plant into operation on June 20. It is able to produce 85-90 liters of oxygen per hour.37

A mini oxygen plant has been established in Barpak village of Gorkha, which can produce 65 liters of oxygen per minute.38

Deurali Yatayat Arghakhanchi Pvt Ltd has distributed Rs 7,300,000 as relief to the transport entrepreneurs who have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.39

Leader of Bishwa Prakash Sharma has handed over the oxygen concentrators provided by the Non-Resident Nepalis Association and Karuna Foundation to four districts of Province 1, namely Jhapa, Panchthar, Taplejung, and Ilam via the Mechi campaign.40

Two oxygen concentrators, procured on the initiative of Laliguras Pariwar, have been handed over to the Tarakeswar Municipality of Kathmandu.41

36 Kantipur 37 Kantipur 38 The Kathmandu Post 39 Annapurna Post 40 Setopati 41 Ratopati

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Contacts for further details

Dr Sunoor Verma Strategic, Risk and Crisis Communication Consultant World Health Organization, Country Office for Nepal [email protected] [email protected]

Ms Tsering Dolkar Gurung NPO (Communication, Media and Public Information) World Health Organization, Country Office for Nepal [email protected]

WHO’s COVID-19 response in Nepal is made possible through the generous support of the Government of Azerbaijan, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Government of Germany and USAID.

Reference Code: 21JUN22MM_36B

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