COVID-19 update: 572 new infections and 262 recoveries; 24 new cases of Omicron Variant

Kathmandu / Jan 7: With 572 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed on Friday, the nation’s novel coronavirus tally has reached 829,632.

In 8,272 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests done in the past 24 hours, a total of 572 persons were found infected with SARS-CoV-2, informed the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) in its regular update.

Likewise, the virus infection was detected in 396 people in 6,699 antigen tests performed in the last 24 hours.

Currently, there are 5,741 active cases of COVID-19 across the nation of which, 455 are admitted to various institutional isolation while 5,286 patients are placed in home isolation.

Of the active patients, 81 are admitted to the ICU and 15 are under treatment with the ventilator facility.

Meanwhile, 262 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment in institutional isolation or staying in home isolation recovered from the infection in the last 24 hours. Nepal has now recorded 813,709 cases of recovery, and the recovery rate is at 97.9 per cent.

The MoHP on Friday added zero COVID-19 related fatality to the nation’s COVID-19 death toll, which has now reached 11,602.

MoHP reports 24 new cases of Omicron Variant

Nepal on Friday reported 24 new cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Issuing a press statement, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) informed that in the gene sequencing of 250 swab samples, the Omicron variant was confirmed in 24 samples.

“During the S-gene screening of 1,146 COVID-19 positive swab samples, 22%, i.e., 250 samples tested S-gene Negative and during the gene sequencing of those 250 suspected samples, the new variant was detected in 24 samples,” said Dr. Sangeeta Kaushal Mishra, spokesperson at the MoHP.

Similarly, considering the probable spike in active cases of COVID-19 due to the spread of the Omicron variant, the Health Ministry has directed all the hospitals and health workers across the nation to begin preparations to fight the possible outbreak by making necessary arrangements of oxygen and other healthcare materials.

Dr. Mishra said that the government has managed to place people entering Nepal from various border points who test COVID-19 positive in isolation.

“Also, the facility of gene screening has been made available in various hospitals including Bir Hospital, Civil Hospital, Birendra Sainik Hospital, TU Teaching Hospital, Province 2 Public Health Laboratory and Bheri Hospital,” she said.

She further requested everyone to abide by the public health standards to check the spread of Omicron in Nepal.