Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring, Nepal

Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring Nepal1

-Sharpening the COVID-19 Response through Communications Intelligence

Date: August 18, 2021 Kathmandu, Nepal

EMERGING THEME(S)

• Nepal reported 2,456 new COVID-19 cases, 27 deaths on August 17; number of COVID-19 cases in Gandaki Province has tripled this year as compared to last; more than 600 active COVID-19 cases in Panchthar; COVID-19 infection has decreased in Parsa, 21 active cases currently • COVID-19 Crisis Management Committee instructs district administrations to impose smart lockdowns from August 17 • Government has taken initiative to set up a lab to produce COVID-19 vaccine in Nepal • New (Gongabu) Bus Park launches digital ticketing service before Dashain to avoid crowding at counters, mitigate COVID-19 transmission • Addition of unvaccinated inmates in already overcrowded jails raises risk of COVID-19 spread

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

Nepal's coronavirus caseload reached 737,294 on August 18 with 2,456 more people testing positive for the infection in the past 24 hours, while the COVID-19 mortality toll increased to 10,354 with 27 more fatalities. Nepal's COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 93.2 per cent, the fatality rate at 1.5 per cent, while the active COVID-19 case count currently is 39,871.2 During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, 26,633 cases were reported in Gandaki Province. This year, since the start of the second wave in mid-April, the number of coronavirus cases has reached 76,342, according to the data of the Ministry of Social Development in Gandaki Province. The number has tripled this year as compared to the corresponding period last year. Dr Ram Bahadur KC, Chief at the Hospital Development and Medicine Service Division under the Ministry, says the increase in the number of coronavirus cases can be attributed to the fact that more people are coming forward to test for the virus this year as compared to last year.3 The number of active cases of COVID-19 is more than 600 in Panchthar. Of them, 19 are undergoing treatment in the HDU of Phidim COVID-19 Hospital. The prohibitory orders have been relaxed as per the demands of traders and businessmen despite the number of COVID-19 infection being high in the district.4 The COVID-19 infection has been decreasing in Parsa. There are 21 active cases of COVID-19, and two are hospitalized. However, according to doctors, the carelessness of the public has increased with the decline in the infection rate. They have said there is a tendency to create crowds in the marketplace, people are not wearing masks, and even those who wear are found to be taking off their masks while talking. If the health safety measures are not followed, and if the movement of people coming from infected areas is not controlled, the situation of Parsa might deteriorate.5 The COVID-19 infection rate was stable in Nepal for sometime after the second wave of the pandemic reached its peak. However, the number of daily infections has increased with the relaxation of the prohibitory orders. At a time when the infection

2 THT Online 3 The Kathmandu Post 4 Onlinekhabar 5 Onlinekhabar

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is coming under control in India, it is spreading in Nepal —experts have pointed to the carelessness from both the government and the citizens for this.6 The Shuklagandaki Municipality of Tanahun has closed all its services except for emergency services for four days to control the spread of COVID-19 infection. The infection has also been confirmed in some of its employees.7 The government has sent 127 Nepalis, who have returned from Afghanistan, to the holding center of Kharipati, Bhaktapur. The government aims to send them home after keeping them there for at least 10 days.8

Amid rising COVID-19 cases and hospitals nearing capacities, the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center (CCMC) on August 16 issued a circular to all district administration offices throughout the country to enforce smart lockdowns. “We have been talking about smart lockdowns for a long time, but today we have issued a circular to all district administration offices to enforce smart lockdowns from Tuesday (August 17),” Nurhari Khatiwada, Spokesperson for CCMC said. “Local administration concerned and the District CCMC can decide the kind of measures to take to contain the spread of infection.” 9

The government started the process of vaccine production in Nepal by mentioning it in its common programs that were announced on August 8. The government has taken the initiative to set up a vaccine lab in Nepal for the production of COVID- 19 vaccine. It has also called interested industries for the production of COVID-19 vaccine. Public health experts have also said that it is possible to produce the vaccine in Nepal. 10

Kathmandu’s Gongabu bus park, also known as New Bus Park, the country’s biggest domestic bus terminal, has launched a digital ticketing service. The bus park decided to go digital two months before Dashain to avoid crowding at counters and to mitigate COVID-19 transmission.11

Although the majority of the prison population in Nepal has already been vaccinated, officials say the addition of new inmates

6 Baarhakhari 7 Setopati 8 Baarhakhari 9 The Kathmandu Post 10 Ratopati 11 The Kathmandu Post

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every day in the prisons, most of which are overcrowded, is still a cause for concern amid rising COVID-19 infections. According to the Department of Prison Management, until June 14 a total of 24,265 prisoners were serving time in 74 prisons across the country. Out of them, 20,446 inmates were inoculated with the first dose, while 19,910 were fully vaccinated. However, as the cases are rising again, there are concerns about a possible third wave, which could bring devastation in the already overcrowded prisons. According to the jailer of the Dillibazar prison, there are over 500 inmates and the majority of them are already vaccinated, but as courts send five to 10 new inmates to the prison daily, the risk of COVID-19 transmission persists among prisoners.12

OTHER(S)

National News

The first Cabinet meeting of Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government had decided to make public the expense details related to COVID-19. It has been nearly a month but the details have not been made public yet.13

Social Development Minister of Sudurpaschim Province Lal Bahadur Khadka has inspected the Gaurifanta border checkpost of Kailali. During the inspection, he informed that the health check-up and holding center will be managed properly to prevent the spread of the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.14

The prohibitory orders have been extended in Gulmi with some relaxations in place till August 26.15

12 The Kathmandu Post 13 Nayapatrika 14 Onlinekhabar 15 Onlinekhabar

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The prohibitory orders that were imposed in Jhapa two weeks ago have been relaxed from August 17. The traders had been pressurizing for the prohibitory orders to be lifted in the district.16

The Baghbhairab Jatra of Kirtipur has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is marked every year on Bhadra 1 (this year on August 17). The festival was cancelled last year too.17

International News

Thousands of medical workers in the Philippines have resigned during the COVID-19 pandemic complaining of low pay and poor working conditions. Others have sought better jobs abroad. Hospitals fear the desertions have reached a critical point just as the Delta variant sends the number of cases soaring. The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines estimated that 40 per cent of private hospital nurses resigned last year, but more followed new waves of infections this year. Public hospitals are facing similar challenges.18

16 Setopati 17 Setopati 18 Reuters (in The Kathmandu Post)

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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, the Government of Canada, UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), Government of Germany and USAID.

Reference Code: 21AUG18MM_009

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