Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring, Nepal Focused COVID-19 Media Monitoring Nepal1 -Sharpening the COVID-19 Response through Communications Intelligence Date: May 25, 2021 Kathmandu, Nepal EMERGING THEME(S) • 7,220 new COVID-19 cases, 185 fatalities reported on May 24; COVID-19 cases on the rise in rural areas, according to Ministry of Health and Population; health experts say it is spreading rapidly in 50 districts stressing again on importance of tracing the mode of transmission and strict adherence to prohibitory orders to curb the spread • COVID-19 infections to decline after next 4 weeks, according to Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi, hints at the possibility of imposing a health emergency to curb the spread of the infection; Prof Dr Jageshwar Gautam appointed Chief Administrative Officer of COVID-19 Unified Hospital • COVAX unable to supply provide COVID-19 vaccine before next year, asks Nepal to look for other options apart from Covishield; Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali asks US for COVID-19 vaccine • Government revises gap from 8-12 weeks for the booster dose of Covishield to after 16 weeks of getting the first dose for those above 65 years waiting for their second dose • It takes 1 week for Gorkha to get PCR reports as it does not have its own PCR lab, healthcare workers worried this might aid in the community transmission of COVID-19 as people mingle, roam around freely waiting for the reports to come, same is the case with Lamjung and Parbat; Gorkha local levels give priority to Antigen Test; Province 1 short of PCR test reagent for last 3 days 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 on Monday reported 7,220 new cases of COVID-19 from across the country. With this, the nationwide coronavirus infection count has climbed to 520,461. Likewise, total fatalities climbed to 6,531 as 185 more deaths were reported from across the country.2 The Ministry of Health and Population has said that the number of coronavirus cases is rising in the rural areas. Though people were requested to stay in quarantine for 10 days, they flouted the safety and health protocols causing a spike in infection rate in rural areas, said Krishna Poudel, Director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division during a press briefing on May 23.3 The COVID-19 infection is spreading rapidly in 50 districts, according to Dr Archana Shrestha, an infectious disease expert. According to Dr Rabi Shakya, Director of Patan Hospital, we are aware of how many among those doing PCR tests are infected, but it is important to know how it is being transmitted in the community. That’s why there is a need for strict prohibitory orders, and contact tracing, as per Dr Basudev Pandey, former Chief of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.4 The COVID-19 infection rate seems to have stabilized in the past one week, while the death rate has increased. Health experts have said though it seems like the infection has peaked, it will be clear only after a week.5 The Kathmandu Metropolitan City is set to do Antigen Test of 50,000 people in five days. The test will begin from May 28 in association with the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.6 Despite the cases of COVID-19 infection decreasing in Kathmandu Valley, the number of infected arriving here from villages across the country for treatment is increasing. The critically-ill patients from districts surrounding the Valley — Kavre, Nuwakot, Dhading — are coming to the hospitals here.7 2 THT Online 3 The Himalayan Times 4 Ratopati 5 Kantipur 6 Setopati WHE Communications Intelligence 3 The number of COVID-infected patients is decreasing in Sudurpaschim Province. In the past one week, eight to 10 people on an average are being discharged from the hospitals every day, and the same number of infected is being admitted, but the number of those in critical condition and requiring oxygen is comparatively low, according to the doctors there.8 The number of COVID-infected is high in rural areas than the urban areas of Gorkha. This is due to the fact there is strict compliance of the prohibitory orders in the market area, while those in the villages are walking around freely, as per Shaligram Poudel, Chief of District Administration Office, Gorkha.9 Contact tracing of the infected and COVID-19 tests have not been given much attention to in the districts of Lumbini Province. Even the families of the infected are not being contact traced. The symptomatic cases are increasing but there are no tests done.10 Of the total 4,073 COVID-19 cases recorded in Sudurpaschim till now, 55 per cent have fully recovered, according to the Health Directorate in Dipayal.11 Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Prithvi Subba Gurung has not yet recovered from COVID-19 infection. However, he has been going around taking part in meetings and swearing-in ceremonies.12 The COVID-19 infections will decline in Nepal after the next four weeks, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi gave the information about the purported decline based on the current rate of infection. 13 Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi has hinted at the possibility of a health emergency. During a press meet, he informed that discussions are being held on the possibility of imposing a health emergency to control the COVID-19 pandemic as the infection might continue to spread fast in the next one month.14 7 Nagarik 8 Onlinekhabar 9 Annapurna Post 10 Kantipur 11 Rastriya Samachar Samiti (in The Himalayan Times) 12 Setopati 13 Baarhakhari WHE Communications Intelligence 4 The government has appointed Prof Dr Jageshwar Gautam as the Chief Administrative Officer of the COVID-19 Unified Hospital. It had decided to make a 500-bed COVID-19 Unified Hospital at the new surgical building of Bir Hospital. The Unified Hospital will have command over all COVID-dedicated hospitals across the nation.15 Amid uncertainty over COVID-19 vaccine supplies to Nepal, the country’s one immediate hope, the COVAX facility, has communicated to the government that it won’t be able to provide the jabs before next year. With this, it remains unclear when those 1.3 million people above 65 years of age, who took their first shots between March 7 and 15 will get their booster doses. According to officials, COVAX has requested Nepal to look for other options. COVAX has requested us to explore other vaccines apart from Covishield, according to Dr Dipendra Rama Singh, Director General at the Department of Health Services.16 Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali has asked the United States to provide anti-COVID-19 vaccine to Nepal. In a May 24 telephone conversation with Wendy Sherman, Deputy Secretary of State, he requested the US to keep Nepal in priority while distributing their extra vaccines.17 Nepali Ambassador to the US Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada and Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US Laura Stone held discussion on bringing COVID-19 vaccine to Nepal from the US.18 Chief Minister of Province 1 Sherdhan Rai had arranged to provide the second dose of Covishield vaccine for his staff, relatives and people close to him a few days ago. The arrangement had been made secretly while the public have also been waiting for vaccination. Even journalists reporting on parliamentary affairs were denied the vaccine. The Nepali Congress has protested the move saying it has confiscated the rights of elderly to get the vaccine in favor of the Chief Minister’s near and dear ones, and also demanded the government to reveal details about the vaccine it has kept hidden.19 14 Ratopati 15 Onlinekhabar 16 The Kathmandu Post 17 Onlinekhabar 18 Onlinekhabar 19 Baarhakhari WHE Communications Intelligence 5 Minister for Communication and Information Parbat Gurung has said arrangements will be made to vaccinate journalists who have not yet got the vaccine against COVID-19.20 The government has set a new time period for providing booster doses of the anti-COVID vaccine to those above 65 years of age. The Ministry of Health and Population had said the second dose of Covishield vaccine that had to be administered within eight to 12 weeks of the first dose, will now be given after 16 weeks of the first dose, according to Dr Roshan Pokharel, Chief Specialist of the Ministry. The decision comes with the government’ failure to procure the second doses needed to inoculate the said population.21 Healthcare workers and people’s representatives in Gorkha are concerned about the possible risk of community transmission of COVID-19 due to the delay in the arrival of PCR reports. Gorkha does not have its own PCR lab. Healthcare workers say it takes more than a week for PCR test reports to arrive as the collected swabs are sent to the Province Public Health Laboratory in Pokhara for testing. We are having a difficult time containing the virus spread mainly due to the delay in the release of PCR test reports; COVID-19 suspects are roaming freely in their villages while waiting for the test reports and unknowingly infecting others as well, according to Hom Bahadur Rana, Chairman of Gandaki Rural Municipality.22 The local levels of Gorkha have given priority to Antigen Test after being unable to get results of PCR tests of the locals even in a week.23 The local levels of Parbat and Lamjung have been collecting swab samples of suspected people from the villages and sending them to laboratories for tests.