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WI THOUT F EAR O R F A V O U R Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXIX No. 197 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 34.0 C 13.2 C Friday, September 03, 2021 | 18-05-2078 Nepalgunj Jomsom EXPLAINED What does the recent seroprevalence study mean? Two-thirds population with antibodies to Covid-19 does not mean they are immune to future infections. Misinterpretation of study could lead to surge in cases. ARJUN POUDEL checks blood samples to look for anti- KATHMANDU, SEPT 2 bodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. A seroprevalence On Monday, the Ministry of Health survey is carried out in a larger popu- and Population released a statement lation to estimate the percentage of that said a preliminary report of the the population with antibodies. nationwide seroprevalence study showed 68.6 percent of the country’s When and where was the study population has already developed carried out? antibodies to Covid-19. Officials said that the detection of Blood samples were collected from 76 antibodies in a large number of peo- districts (excluding Manang) on a ran- ple, both vaccinated and unvaccinat- dom sampling basis between July 5 ed, should be taken positively. They and August 14. The sample size was also claimed that a large-scale out- over 13,000. Those samples were tested break of Covid-19 is unlikely in the at the National Public Health immediate future. Laboratory in Teku. The study was Authorities in various districts, carried out with the technical and including in Kathmandu Valley, which financial assistance of the World is still a major coronavirus hotspot, Health Organisation. have started dropping their guard– The Health Ministry had carried schools, cinemas and gyms are being out a similar study in 2020 but reopened. Despite the high infection refrained from publishing the report. risk and the Kathmandu Valley still The previous study had shown that reporting a high number of cases–the around 15 percent of the country’s Valley still has 9,000 active cases– population had developed antibodies authorities concerned seem indiffer- to SARS-CoV-2, with some districts ent to political rallies and religious and reporting up to 28 percent. other events. Public health POST PHOTO: DEEPAK KC experts have warned that the pre- Does having Covid-19 antibodies Two members of mounted traffic police patrol the New Baneshwar crossroads in Kathmandu on Thursday. liminary results of the seroprev- mean a person is protected from alence study, which is confusing future infections? and misleading, could increase complacency in all sectors and Doctors say no. According to experts, lead to a spike in new infections. antibody tests or serology tests are Here’s everything you need to carried out to check antibodies in know about the seroprevalence blood samples to determine if a per- Border issue with China exposes study. son has had a previous infection. A positive antibody result does not What is a seroprevalence study? always guarantee that a person is pro- tected against future infections. Nepal’s unstable foreign policy Serology or antibody testing >> Continued on page 2 When it comes to relations with neighbours, a studied approach that is above partisan interests is required, and both Oli and Deuba have bungled, analysts say. ANIL GIRI KATHMANDU, SEPT 2 When it comes to Nepal’s foreign poli- omegawatches.com cy issues, what is missing is—the Nepal government. Over the years Nepal has seen gov- ernments of one political party or another, and these governments func- tion based on the orientation of the party that is leading. And when for- eign policy matters are concerned, the Nepali state is confused. The border issue with China is a case in point. Last year in September, reports sur- faced that the Chinese side had built 11 buildings in a remote part of Humla POST FILE PHOTO district that Nepal claims as its own Cargo trucks seen at a Nepal-China border point in Humla. territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs by KP Sharma Oli, who now heads the boundary dispute with China. The was quick to say that there were no CPN-UML. team is headed by a joint secretary at disputes. Oli was replaced by Nepali the Ministry of Home Affairs. Neither “The Department of Survey, based Congress’ Sher Bahadur Deuba on the name of the joint secretary nor the on official records, reports of the joint July 13. Deuba is mainly backed by the terms of reference have been finalised field inspection and boundary maps, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist yet. has verified and confirmed that the Centre), which until March this year One of the ministers in the Deuba said buildings are not located within was part of the Oli government. government said the panel was formed the Nepali territory,” read the state- On Wednesday, Deuba formed a at the initiative of Deuba. ment. The government then was led five-member team to “study” the >> Continued on page 2 For queer people with disabilities, the path to acceptance is more arduous CONSTELLATION 41MM They face more prejudices in the forms of queerphobia and ableism, activists say. Born in 1952, the Constellation quickly became a symbol of OMEGA’s matters worse is the increased discrim- high quality manufacturing and record-breaking precision. Today’s Master ination that he now has to face. “I have always faced discrimination Chronometer certified models, tested at the highest level by the Swiss Federal from family, friends and other people Institute of Metrology (METAS), guarantee more accuracy, reliability and for being a bisexual. But when I lost both my legs, the discrimination supreme resistance to magnetism from electronic devices, such as phones and amplified. Before, I could provide for laptops. Almost 70 years later, the Constellation remains a star performer. myself. But now I am unemployed and face more prejudices than ever for being a queer as well as a person with disability,” says Paudel, 39. In the past two decades, Nepal’s RT A queer movement has made several progressive changes in the country’s policies and laws. From legalising homosexuality in 2007, guaranteeing rights for a certain section of the queer population to ensuring protec- PHOTO COURTESY: DEVIANT DEVIANT COURTESY: PHOTO tion for queer community in the coun- try’s constitution, the queer move- ANKIT KHADGI While crossing the road near his ment in Nepal has helped amplify the KATHMANDU, SEPT 2 home, Paudel, a bisexual, was hit by a voices of the queer population. speeding tipper and he lost both his However, according to queer AVAILABLE AT: On the morning of March 12, 2020, legs. The accident completely changed disability rights activists, who REGENCY WATCH: Annapurna Arcade, Durbar Marg • Thamsherku Center, Durbar Marg, MGA International Pvt Ltd Deepak Paudel, a daily wage labourer the trajectory of Paudel’s life. spoke to the Post, Nepal’s queer move- who moonlights as a dancer, was His disability has meant that he can ment has failed to address the con- returning home in Parsa Bazar, no longer work as a labourer or a danc- cerns and issues of queer people with Chitwan, after performing at a wed- er and has been facing difficulties pro- disabilities. ding in Narayanghat. viding for himself. What has made >> Continued on page 8 Omega_HQ • Visual: CO56_131.63.41.21.03.001 • Newspaper: 03176 12Mar21 CO56_131.63.41.21.03.001 (NP) C M Y K Language: English • Issue: 12/03/2021 • Doc size: 161.5 x 250 mm • Calitho #: 03-21-145520 • AOS #: OME_03176 • AD 15/03/2021 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Sindhupalchok flood victims migrate out of the district to seek livelihood Around 700 flood-displaced families of Helambu and Melamchi have moved to other cities since the disaster. ANISH TIWARI Rural Municipality Ward No. 7 was also SINDHUPALCHOK, SEPT 2 found travelling to Kathmandu with her husband. “There’s only sand left where On June 15, the flooded Melamchi river our fertile land once lay. How long can swept away the house and property of we live here? So we decided to go to 50-year-old Shiva Lamichhane, a resi- Kathmandu and try our luck in the city.” dent of Gyalthum in Helambu Rural According to Rupakheti, a majority of Municipality Ward No. 4. the disaster survivors are moving to Since then, Lamichhane’s family had Kathmandu and to Kavre district after been taking shelter under tents and flim- the flood disrupted their lives. sy makeshift huts. On Wednesday, Since the disaster, 227 flood victims of Lamichhane and his family members Helambu are staying in temporary shel- POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA came down to Melamchi bazaar with ters provided by the local government A woman carries a baby on the premises of Bagh Bhairab temple in Kirtipur, Kathmandu on Thursday. their belongings. They were on their and donors. Other 180 flood victims of way to Kathmandu with no intention of Melamchi Municipality are living in returning to their village. rented rooms after their houses were “Our house and arable land plots have swept away by the flooded river. been buried by Melamchi floods. There’s Shyam Krishna Shrestha, a flood vic- Border issue with China exposes Nepal’s unstable ... nowhere to stay and nothing left to eat. tim of Ward No. 11 of Melamchi bazaar, That’s why we don’t want to stay here. said, “I also have plans to go to >> Continued from page 1 Deuba then assured his party members that he Millennium Challenge Corporation, is set to arrive We are going to Kathmandu to seek a Kathmandu.

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