BMD

In the face of a growing fear of the transmission of the Omicron variant across Nepal, life is quite normal in the Kathmandu Valley. Businesses and educational institutions have been running as usual. The country has reported a sudden increase in the number of daily COVID-19 infections to around 1,000 along with two dozen fresh Omicron cases. Following a week-long general convention of the CPN - Maoist Centre, its two top leaders — Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and Narayan Kaji Shrestha — have been infected with the viral disease.

But even amidst this scenario, what is more interesting is that political meetings and rallies, and other gatherings are taking place unabated. Many pedestrians are also found without wearing a face mask. They are seen flouting most health safety rules prescribed by the government.
With the outbreak of this more contagious virus strain, the areas adjoining the Indian border have already reported a massive surge in the coronavirus infections. As the number of COVID-19 cases has been rising at an alarming rate in many Indian states, Nepal may record more Omicron-related infections in the near future if stringent measures are not taken immediately.

Having thoroughly scrutinised the situation, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) recently forecasted that the potential COVID third wave could appear in Nepal within two weeks or so. Looking at the latest scenario, it can be said that the country might be in the grip of the terrible third wave. This could strain the country’s poor healthcare system.

With the start of the second wave a couple of months ago, the country had to reel from an acute shortage of hospital beds and oxygen. The second wave in Nepal was driven by the Delta variant. Many COVID-19 patients had lost their lives for lack of oxygen as the Delta variant infection causes a severe drop in the level of blood oxygen.

Some studies have shown that the Omicron variant is milder than the previous COVID strains and about 70 per cent of the patients do not need hospitalisations. They suggest that the new variant is less likely to make people seriously ill as compared to earlier variants. But the World Health Organisation (WHO) does not agree with this view. It has lately said that the new variant is killing people around the world. It said the record number of people catching the Omicron variant has left health systems under severe pressure.

But, according to health experts, the Omicron variant is less severe as compared to the Delta variant among the vaccinated people. However, as a highly infectious variant, Omicron may infect even the fully vaccinated. This hints that the unvaccinated are at high risk of being infected.

Many nations across the world have already witnessed an unprecedented number of COVID cases with the first detection of the Omicron variant in South Africa late November last year. Nepal still has a long way to go when it comes to vaccinating people against the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthening the healthcare system. Before the situation gets worsened, the responsible bodies are required to make collaborative efforts to deal with the contagion. Since saving people’s lives is the topmost priority, they must increase vigilance and step up any steps as and when necessary.