By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Jan.6: Nepal is witnessing a gradual rise in COVID-19 cases in recent days. The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) on Thursday recorded 540 new cases of COVID-19. Of them, 478 were detected through PCR tests and 62 through antigen tests. Earlier on Wednesday, the daily caseload was 435 and on Tuesday, it was 393.

According to the MoHP, the nationwide COVID-19 tally through PCR method reached 830,480 and that through antigen tests reached 96,445.

Of the total 12,099 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, 7,209 were Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) while 3,552 were antigen tests, informed the MoHP.

According to the MoHP, the Kathmandu Valley recorded 310 new infections over that period. Of these, 221 cases were confirmed in Kathmandu, 30 in Bhaktapur and 59 in Lalitpur. In the past 24 hours, 34 new infections were recorded in Province 1, 18 in Province 2; 334 in Bagmati; 36 in Gandaki, 29 in Lumbini, five in Karnali and 20 in Sudhurpachhim Province.  

The active caseload has reached 5,431 on Thursday. Of the active cases, 362 patients are admitted to various health facilities while the remaining 5,069 are in home isolation.

Similarly, 79 individuals infected with the virus were being treated in intensive care units across the country. Similarly, another 14 patients were  receiving treatment with ventilator support.

According to the MoHP data, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts have more than 500 active cases each and four districts, including, Sunsari, Kaski, Banke and Kailali have more than 200 active cases each. Meanwhile, Rasuwa, Manang, Mustang, Humla and Mugu are the districts with zero active cases as of today.

Meanwhile, 271 COVID-19 patients recovered from the infection during that period. Nepal has now recorded 813,477 cases of recovery. 

The country also reported one death related to the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 11,602.  The recovery rate of COVID-19 has reached 98 per cent and death rate is 1.4 per cent, as of today.

The MoHP informed that of the total population, 14,737,433 people had received their first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 and that 10,904,859 had received their full dose as of Thursday. In total, 120,653 people were vaccinated in the last 24 hours. The MoHP has administered 25,642,292 doses of vaccines against COVID-19, so far.

Meanwhile, the International Buddhist Organisation Tzu Chi Charity Foundation today donated 50 ventilators and 25 nasal cannulas in addition to the support of 200 ventilators and 75 nasal cannulas facilitated through HECAF36. The health materials that were provided to 47 government and non-government hospitals through the Department of Health Services.