Covid 19
The Ministry of Health and Population has appealed to people to compulsorily wear a mask in public spaces.
In a statement, the ministry has also urged all government and non-governmental organisations to ensure availability of sanitisers at their office entrance.
In addition to crowded public places, the mandatory masking up rule will be effective at airports, public vehicles and aircrafts, the statement said.
It added that people must wear masks in seminars, meetings, schools, universities, religious places, places for entertainment and other crowded areas.
The Ministry has also urged organisations to conduct mass testing of coronavirus for analysis of the possible community-level infections.
The government’s mandatory masking up rule follows a sharp rise in coronavirus infections in recent days. On July 21, a total of 435 people tested positive for Covid-19 following PCR and antigen testing of 3,569 samples.
Health officials and experts have been urging people to get Covid vaccine to prevent infections.
Booster boost
Still many people appear to be shying away from getting boosters shots – which are free of cost like previous shots.
According to the Ministry, only 70.5 per cent of the population has taken the first dose of Covid vaccine.
Doctors say vaccination has been proven effective to prevent severe infections.
“As the infection is increasing and the virus is mutating one must take vaccine and their booster doses too,” said Dr Bibek Lal, director at Family Welfare Division.
As Covid cases rise again, the Health Ministry has urged people to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and its new variants such as BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron.
“Those who have not taken their booster shots should take the shots at the nearest vaccination sites,” the statement reads.
As of July 21, a total of 141 people have been admitted in the health centres for Covid care. Of them, 71 are in Bagmati Province.
Also, 19 people are being given intensive care, out of which 17 are in Bagmati Province. There are patients receiving intensive care in Province 1 and in Sudurpaschim too.
The ministry has requested people with Covid-like symptoms or complications to visit nearby health centres without any delay.
Further information can be obtained by calling its helpline numbers - 1155 and 1133.
