Kathmandu, Jan 31: The coronavirus infection rate has been declined by 5.6 per cent this week in comparison to the infection rate of last week.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), 55,595 people tested positive for the virus of the total 116,613 PCR testing just a week before.

This is a 47.67 per cent infection rate. Similarly, of the total 101,311 PCR testing, 42,546 tested positive for the virus. This is 42 per cent, which is 5.6 per cent less than just a week ago.

According to Dr Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of the Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Hospital in Teku, the COVID-19 infection has been decreasing in the country. The data from the MoHP also conveys that the infection rate has been dropped down to 42 per cent from 47.67 per cent in the difference of a week.

He said that the COVID-19 cases will decline by a week as many people have already been affected by the virus and many have developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Also, the COVID-19 cases are already decreasing so COVID-19 cases will decline drastically by a week.

As per the data of MoHP, of the total 23,092 PCR and antigen testing, 10703 tested positive for SRAS-CooV-2. 20,187 PCR testing, 10,254 people tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on January, 22. On January, 23, 17, 437 PCR testing, 6, 462, people tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Similarly, from January, 24, 10,319 tested positive of the total 21,201 testings. And, 12,008 tested positive of the total 25,909 testing on January, 25. Of the total 20,359 testings, 8454 people were confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 on January, 26.

Of the total 21,808, PCR and antigen tests performed on Janaury27, 8017 were confirmed with the virus on January, 27. On January 28, 19,869 performed PCR and antigen testing of which 6827 tested positive for the virus.

On January, 29, people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 spiralled down to 4,909. The total testing on Friday was 14,562.

On January, 30, 13,145 performed testing, of which, 3,540 tested positive for the virus.

According to Dr Krishna Prasad Paudel, Director at the Epidemiology & Disease Control Division (EDCD), the COVID-19 infection rate has been decreasing in the country.

He credited the control in the mass gathering for the decline in COVID-19 infection.

“Despite the massive criticism, the odd-even rule seems to be working. Amass gatherings have been controlled as well. This has controlled the spread of the virus” He said, and added that even people testing for SARS-CoV-2 in the PCR and antigen testing have gone down.

He added that the government has also made the prediction that the COVID-19 cases will go down after rising at their peak.

Director Poudel said that even the hospitalizations have declined and there is not much pressure on patients in the hospitals. He said that if the large gatherings are controlled and health preventive measures are strictly followed then the third wave will subside in a week.

Similarly, Dr Sangeeta Kaushal Mishra, Spokesperson to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP0, said that antigen testing is performed in the home and often by laboratories that are not listed by the government. Therefore, it still cannot be implied that the COVID-19 has surpassed the third wave. So, health safety measures must be adhered to curb SARS-Cov-2 in the country.

Death rate stable 

The death rate from COVID-19 has been stable despite the decline in the COVID-19 infection. On January, 24, 4 people lost their life to COVID-19, 8 people died because of COVID on January,25, 5 on January,26, 15 on January,27, 10 on January,28 9 people died to COVID-19 on January 29 and six people died on last 24 hour.