![]() | This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Almost everything except the stat in the infobox is outdated..(September 2021) |
COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal | |
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Disease | COVID-19 |
Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
Location | Nepal |
First outbreak | Wuhan, Hubei, China |
Index case | Kathmandu, Bagmati Province |
Arrival date | 9 January 2020 (4 years, 7 months and 3 days) |
Date | 23 January 2020 |
Confirmed cases | 1,003,450[1] (updated 17 August 2024) |
Active cases | ![]() |
Recovered | 968,802 (26 July)[2] |
Deaths | 12,031[1] (updated 17 August 2024) |
Fatality rate | ![]() |
Territories | Active cases in out of 77 districts |
Vaccinations | |
Government website | |
COVID-19 Dashboard (MoHP) Nepal COVID-19 official situation reports Nepal COVID-19 Monitor (NDRRMA) |
The COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal was part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first case in Nepal was confirmed on 23 January 2020 when a 31-year-old student, who had returned to Kathmandu from Wuhan on 9 January, tested positive.[3] It was also the first recorded case of COVID-19 in South Asia.[4] Nepal's first case of local transmission was confirmed on 4 April in Kailali District. The first death occurred on 14 May. A country-wide lockdown came into effect on 24 March 2020, and ended on 21 July 2020.[5] As of 26 July 2022, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has confirmed a total of 984,475 cases, 968,802 recoveries, and 11,959 deaths in the country.[2] In the meantime, 5,804,358 real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) tests have been performed in 40 laboratories across the country.[2] The viral disease has been detected in all provinces and districts of the country, with Bagmati Province and Kathmandu being the worst hit province and district respectively. As for Nepalese abroad, as of 26 July 2020, the Non-Resident Nepali Association has reported a total of 12,667 confirmed cases, 16,190 recoveries, and 161 deaths across 35 countries.[6]
Between January and March, Nepal took steps to prevent a widespread outbreak of the disease while preparing for it by procuring essential supplies, equipment and medicine, upgrading health infrastructure, training medical personnel, and spreading public awareness. Starting in mid-January, Nepal established health-desks at Tribhuvan International Airport as well as at border checkpoints with India. Land borders with India as well as China were later completely sealed off, and all international flights were suspended. All academic examinations were cancelled, and schools and colleges were closed. Quarantine centres and temporary hospitals are being set up across the country. Laboratory facilities are being upgraded and expanded. Hospitals have been setting up ICU units and isolation beds. The SAARC countries have pledged to cooperate in controlling the disease in the region. India, the United States and Germany increased their support to Nepali health sectors.
The pandemic forced Nepal to cancel the then ongoing Visit Nepal Year 2020 tourism campaign.[7] The country's economy is expected to be severely affected due to the pandemic's impact on tourism, remittance, manufacturing, construction, and trade.[8] The World Bank has warned that the pandemic could push about one-third of the country's population below the International Poverty Line (i.e., $1.90 per day).[9]
Vaccination for COVID-19 began in Nepal on 27 January 2021.[10]
One confirmed case in Nepal was a native student, studying in Wuhan, with symptom onset on 3 January 2020. The infected 32-year-old male had returned on 9 January to spend winter holidays in Nepal... On 23 January 2020, the test results came back confirming COVID-19, although the man had been discharged.
The government has announced an end of the nationwide lockdown that it had imposed starting March 24 to contain the spread of Covid-19. Minister for Finance and Communication Yubaraj Khatiwada, who is also the government spokesperson, told a press briefing that Monday's Cabinet meeting had decided to lift the lockdown effective from Tuesday midnight with a few restrictions such as a ban on large gatherings still in place.
Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, secretary at the Tourism Ministry, told the Post that last Sunday's (March 22) cabinet meeting decided to call off the campaign that aimed to draw 2 million tourists in the country this year.
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