By Ajita Rijal

Kathmandu, Apr. 18: COVID-19 causes mild to moderate complications in many of those infected with it, but all the infected patients in Nepal are in a normal condition till date.
Among the 30 patients of COVID-19, 14 were detected on Friday itself, and 15 are undergoing treatment at various hospitals and the first infected person has already recovered.
Health condition of 15 previously infected people is normal, and the designated hospitals are waiting for the negative results of their throat swab tests.T
he health experts said that the patients could be discharged after testing negative for the virus.
According to Dr Anup Bastola, spokesperson at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH) in Teku, where two patients are now receiving treatment, health condition of both DH is normal and they are receiving treatment with symptomatic drugs.
“We are treating them as how the patients of fever and cough are treated,” said Bastola, adding that both the patients were having normal diet.
According to Dr Sagar Rajbhandari, director at the same hospital, besides the two infected patients, the hospital has at least 10 virus suspects in its isolation wards on daily basis.
Twenty health workers under Dr Bastola’s leadership are taking care of the suspects and infected patients.
The patients are kept in two different rooms equipped with all the basic requirements, including toilet, internet services, TV sets, telephone and meals are served timely, said Dr Rajbhandari.
“We have set up the facility of observing the patients through the smart phones,” said Rajbhandari.
“If we enter the room of patients, we need to use protective gears, and that the condition of all patients is normal, we are doing our best to protect ourselves using the PPE,” said Dr Bastola. In case the patients show critical symptoms or if they feel uncomfortable, then we visit them, otherwise we advise them through phone, said Dr Bastola.
The treatment is based on the symptoms they show. Till now they are not showing any critical signs.
“Coronavirus spread within a short span of time, the treatment is possible with the coordination of the doctor and patient. The patients must coordinate with doctors to stop its transmission,” said Dr Bastola.
As a COVID-19 patient indirectly transmits infections to others, health care providers must take precautions and the main precaution is wearing protective gears, said Dr Bastola.
The health workers meet them while collecting their throat and nasal swabs and at a time they need intensive care, said Dr Rajbhandari.
With less number of patients at the hospital, we have been managing them easily, said Dr Bastola.
“If the COVID-19 gets spread, there will be the worst scenario. As the world is facing shortage of PPEs, it’s wise use is a must. So, we are utilising PPE as much as possible,” said Dr Bastola.
Health workers and concerned authorities must adopt the rational use of PPE understanding its importance.
Though the health workers are available round the clock at hospital, only a few health workers serve in isolation wards to protect and preserve the PPE. But still more than 30 sets of PPE are essential on daily basis at the hospital, said Dr Rajbhandari.
Being the referral hospital for any kind of infectious diseases, it had only three bedded ICU wards. Now the hospital will have 20 ICU beds. There were only five isolation wards and it will have 25 after its expansion, said Dr Rajbhandari.