Nepal: COVID cases may double this month

Nepal reported the most cases in a single day on Tuesday as government projects the tally could double by the end of the month.

Nepal has recorded 10,258 new coronavirus infections, government data showed, the highest number reported in a single day as the government projects the tally could double by the end of the month.

Total infections on Tuesday topped 972,198 and COVID-19-related deaths stood at 11,624. The previous daily record was 9,483 cases in May last year.

Authorities extended a ban on large public gatherings in the hill-ringed Kathmandu Valley, home to more than four million people, until February 12 from January 29 to try to control the spread of the virus.

Nepal’s daily number of infections is likely to double by the end of January and hospitalisation cases could increase greatly, putting further strain on the country’s poor health infrastructure, officials said.

Hospitals ran short of beds and many patients died due to lack of oxygen when the outbreak of the Delta variant peaked in May last year.

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