How an Outbreak of COVID-19 Circulated Widely in Nepal: A Chronological Analysis of the National Response to an Unprecedented Pandemic

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first COVID-19 case was reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The first COVID-19 case in Nepal was reported in January 2020 in a Nepalese man who had returned from Wuhan to Nepal. This study aims to evaluate the government of Nepal’s (GoN) response to the COVID-19 pandemic and explore ways to prevent COVID-19 and other pandemic diseases in the future. As of May 2022, a total of 979,140 cases and 11,951 deaths associated with COVID-19 have been reported in Nepal. To prevent the spread of the virus, the GoN initiated various preventive and control measures, including lockdown strategies. The effects of COVID-19 are expected to persist for many years; the best strategies a resource-limited country such as Nepal can implement to control pandemic diseases such as COVID-19 in the pre-vaccine stage are to increase testing, tracing, and isolation capacity.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms among home isolated patients with COVID-19: A cross-sectional study from Province One, Nepal

“…Among the 14 districts, Morang, Sunsari and Jhapa were the most affected districts-all plain districts bordering to India [21]. During the data collection period (February-April 2021), Nepal experienced an increase in COVID-19 cases due to the second wave, hospitals ran out of beds and oxygen along with other essential supplies was in critical shortage [22]. As hospitals were overwhelmed with the patients, those with mild or no symptoms were suggested to stay at home isolation.…”

Has COVID-19 suppressed dengue transmission in Nepal?

“…Nepal, home to 30 million people, shares borders with India and China. The first case of COVID-19 in the country was reported on 23 January 2020, and was followed by a first wave of the disease that peaked in October 2020 [ 1 ]. Following a surge of cases in India, the Delta variant entered Nepal in April 2021 leading to the highest numbers of cases and deaths.…”

“…Following a surge of cases in India, the Delta variant entered Nepal in April 2021 leading to the highest numbers of cases and deaths. This was followed by a third wave caused by the Omicron variant in December 2021 [ 1 ]. Hospitals became crowded and almost all hospital beds in Kathmandu were occupied by COVID-19 patients with the highest number of daily deaths (246) on 19 May 2021 [ 1 ].…”

“…This was followed by a third wave caused by the Omicron variant in December 2021 [ 1 ]. Hospitals became crowded and almost all hospital beds in Kathmandu were occupied by COVID-19 patients with the highest number of daily deaths (246) on 19 May 2021 [ 1 ]. Many patients were turned away due to a lack of oxygen, intensive care unit beds and ventilators.…”

“…Many patients were turned away due to a lack of oxygen, intensive care unit beds and ventilators. The government of Nepal declared a health emergency and imposed a nationwide lockdown that started on 23 May 2021, and which lasted for 6 months during 2021 [ 1 ]. Following the second wave, the long open border between India and Nepal, lacking strict health regulations and insufficiently monitored adherence to public health advice may have contributed to a large third wave of infections.…”