Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring, Nepal Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring Nepal1 -Sharpening the COVID-19 Response through Communications Intelligence Date: August 10, 2021 Kathmandu, Nepal EMERGING THEME(S) • Nepal reported 2,609 new COVID-19 cases, 22 deaths on August 9; COVID-19 death tally of second wave 4 times than that of first wave in Birgunj; prohibitory orders being tightened in Lumbini Province as coronavirus cases surge in last few days; COVID-19 ICU beds in Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Gandaki’s Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital full, infected patients seeking treatment in private hospitals • Most children malnourished in Bajura due to acute food shortage brought on by COVID-19 pandemic Students stage protest in front of Tribhuvan University demanding online exams be conducted in place of physical exams; TU exams being conducted amongst crowd of students with almost no heed to health safety protocols; Lawmaker Gagan Thapa questions the logic behind TU holding physical exams; alliance of students’ unions demands vaccination for students RECURRING THEME(S) • Nepal Police has speeded up ‘Where is your mask?’ campaign as country sees a surge in COVID-19 cases • Senior citizens above the age of 65 being administered second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine from August 9; health experts flag the crowding at immunization centers as it would aid in spread of coronavirus 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. WHE Communications Intelligence 2 ISSUE(S) IN FOCUS Nepal's coronavirus caseload reached 717,486 on August 9 with 2,609 more people testing positive for the infection in the past 24 hours, while the countrywide COVID-19 mortality toll increased to 10,115 with 22 more fatalities. Nepal's COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 93.5 per cent, the fatality rate at 1.5 per cent, while the active COVID-19 case count currently is 36,288.2 The number of people who lost their lives due to COVID-19 during the second wave of the pandemic is four times higher than during the first wave in Birgunj. A total of 86 were lost lives in the first wave, while 343 died due to the infection in the second wave.3 On August 8, the Ministry of Health and Population revealed that a total of 55 people lost their lives to the infection in the past 24 hours. This is the highest number of daily deaths Nepal has recorded in the month of Shrawan (since July 16). Nepal had not seen more than 40 daily deaths since July 16. However, according to Dr Krishna Prasad Poudel, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, the data is not of the 24 hours only, but they have added the missing number deaths sent by the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center in different times.4 Authorities have begun tightening prohibitory orders in various hill districts of Lumbini Province after the region reported a rise in coronavirus cases in the last few days. The district administrations in Arghakhanchi and Gulmi, where the active number of coronavirus cases stand at 757 and 486 respectively, have banned the operation of public vehicles since July 31 to curb the further spread of the virus. Health workers say complacency among the public and the authorities towards the virus is one of the main causes of the virus spreading in these districts.5 2 THT Online 3 Onlinekhabar 4 Baarhakhari 5 The Kathmandu Post WHE Communications Intelligence 3 The 25 COVID ICU beds of the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences have been filled since the past two weeks. Likewise, the seven ICU beds at the Gandaki Province’s Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital have also been filled up. The COVID-19 infected patients are undergoing treatment in private hospitals as there are no beds available in the government hospitals.6 The COVID-19 pandemic has affected more women and children in the second wave than in the first wave in Baglung. It becomes very difficult for the children to complete the isolation period if their mothers get infected. Likewise, there is a risk of the children also getting infected when their mothers become infected with the virus.7 Acute shortage of food triggered by COVID-19 has left most of the children malnourished at Muktikot village of Bajura’s Swamikartik Khapar Rural Municipality. The pandemic has also adversely affected the Golden 1,000 Days program in the village implemented in a bid to address the problem of malnutrition among new mothers and their newborns, according to Municipality Vice-chair Mima Budha. Muktikot is home to 400 Dalit families. The village sees many deaths of children from malnutrition every year — six children lost their lives to malnutrition in the last one year alone.8 Students on August 9 staged a protest in front of Tribhuvan University (TU) demanding that the physical exams be cancelled and that online exams be taken. They said that no health protocols are being followed in the ongoing exams of TU. #CancelTUexam is trending on Twitter protesting that the exams are being conducted amidst the pandemic. 9 The exams of the Tribhuvan University are being conducted amongst crowds of students during the time of COVID-19 pandemic. Two students are being kept on a bench, and the students of another shift are made to sit for exams without disinfecting the classroom after one shift of the exam is over. The colleges are holding exams in up to three shifts a day. The exam centers are very crowded.10 6 Kantipur 7 Onlinekhabar 8 The Himalayan Times 9 Ratopati 10 Nayapatrika WHE Communications Intelligence 4 The exams of Grade XII have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the exams of other levels are being conducted. What is the logic and basis for this, questioned lawmaker Gagan Thapa after the decision was made to postpone the board exams of Grade XII while the Tribhuvan University has decided not to cancel its ongoing exams.11 The students’ unions of the ruling alliance demanded that the COVID-19 vaccines be provided to the students. They submitted a memorandum to the State Minister for Health and Population Umesh Shrestha stating that students be provided the vaccine by showing their admit card for the examinations.12 ‘WHERE IS YOUR MASK?’ CAMPAIGN Nepal Police has speeded up its campaign ‘Where is your mask?’ in face of an increase in the cases of COVID-19 infection. Before this, it had distributed the masks, but the program was not effective due to the decline in the infections. 13 Nepal Police has started ‘Where is your mask?’ campaign in Simikot of Humla with an increase in COVID-19 infection there. In the campaign that began on August 7, free masks are being distributed to people walking without masks in the market areas.14 Stating that use of masks can protect one from COVID-19 infection, the National Health Education and Information Center has organized the ‘Nepal Mask Week’ from August 7 to 13. The infectious disease experts also believe wearing the right masks in the right manner can protect one from the infection. Be it Dr Sher Bahadur Pun of the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital or Dr Anup Subedee of HAMS Hospital, they have been deployed in the treatment of COVID-19 infected patients but haven’t been infected ever. That’s because of the right use of a mask, the duo said. 15 11 Baarhakhari 12 Setopati 13 Setopati 14 Ratopati 15 Nagarik WHE Communications Intelligence 5 Some non-governmental organizations have started a mask bank at Rajbiraj of Saptari with the increase in crowds in the market following the relaxations of the prohibitory orders. The campaign — that started on June 24 — distributes masks free of charge to people — and aims to create an environment where people would put on masks when stepping out of their houses.16 VACCINATION DRIVE The senior citizens above the age of 65 are getting the second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine from August 9. However, most of the immunization centers are crowded and people need to stay in long lines to get the vaccine. According to public health experts, there is a risk of COVID-19 infection spreading if the vaccination is done amidst a crowd. The managerial weakness of the government is the reason for the public facing such unnecessary hassles during the immunization, as per infectious disease expert Dr Kiran Raj Pandey.17 A total of 32,000 people, who have taken the first dose of Covishield vaccine, are waiting for the second dose in Kaski. The government is set to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine as the second dose and the vaccination program will begin in a couple of days in the district. 18 The percentage of people getting complete doses of the vaccine against COVID-19 is almost similar in Nepal and India. In every 100 people, 7.81 individuals have got complete vaccine doses in Nepal, while 7.91 individuals per 100 people in India, as per the World Health Organization. However, the number of people receiving one dose of the vaccine is higher in India.19 More than 420,000 locals have been inoculated against COVID-19 in Sudurpaschim Province. According to Province Health Directorate, people are waiting for the second dose.20 16 Onlinekhabar 17 Onlinekhabar 18 Onlinekhabar 19 Kantipur 20 The Himalayan Times WHE Communications Intelligence 6 OTHER(S) National News A third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is imminent and unavoidable, public health experts, epidemiologist, virologists as well as the Ministry of Health and Population all agree.