May 18: The number of Covid-19 cases dropped on Saturday and Sunday but has increased again on Sunday. It has been reported that the number of new cases dropped due to the decline in tests but the rate of infection has not dropped yet.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, a total of 22,087 tests were conducted on Monday out of which 9,247 people or 42 percent samples tested positive for coronavirus. The ministry had been conducting less than 20,000 tests in the past weeks but had stepped up testing on Monday.

On Sunday, the ministry had conducted 19,883 tests and 18,548 tests on Saturday. The rate of infection was 37 percent on Sunday and 44 percent on Saturday.

The rate of infection was more than 50 percent until last week but has now become somewhat stable, according to the available data.

Public health expert Dr Sher Bahadur Pun says it is difficult to predict the future course at the moment but the data show some positive results.

“The current crisis is a result of transmission within families. But the chain effect of infection at the community level has been under control to some extent,” said Pun, adding that the infection will reduce if the public abides by the prohibitory order.

“If there is public gatherings, the problem will resurface again,” said Pub.

He says that even if the government lifts prohibitory order, the general public must still follow standard health protocol.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Population has stated that the coming weeks would be challenging in view of the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic that has spread across the country. Issuing a statement on Monday, the ministry urged the public to be more cautious and to strictly adopt health safety protocol.    
In the statement, joint spokesperson at the ministry Dr Samir Adhikari said that despite rigorous efforts in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of infection has still not declined.

Dr Adhikari urged one and all not to organize and participate in any kind of public gathering in the name of religious, cultural and political activities.
The ministry also informed that the rate of infection was high in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavrepalanchok, Rupandehi, Morang, Kailali, Makawanpur, Dhanusha, Sunsari, Parsa, Bardiya, Banke and Palpa districts.