New Variants, New Fears

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire world for the past three years by changing its faces with the emergence of new variants and sub-variants. Though the coronavirus cases seem to be declining across the nation lately, it has again gripped the country with fear as the virus is spreading in Nepal's neighbouring countries with new variants. COVID-19 related essential health protocols including wearing masks, washing hands with soap and water, using sanitisers, keeping physical distance and having immunity boosters are back in demand, as worries intensify over possible spread of new virus variants. 

At the moment, however, people have completely forgotten about basic precaution rules to check virus spread. Who cares about social distancing or frequent hand washing or sanitising? According to experts, new variants may come back to Nepal from multiple source countries, especially India to which Nepal shares open border. As the cases of COVID-19 continue to increase in the neighbouring China and other countries, fear of the outbreak recurrence has gripped the nation again. According to various media reports, infection rate of the COVID-19 cases is rising in China, Japan, USA and South Korea, where thousands of Nepali migrant workers and students live and travel back to Nepal from there. 

The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has asked public to be cautious as there is a risk of the new variant of Coronavirus BF.7 spreading in Nepal as well. The ministry asked people to take necessary prevention and control measures as there is a risk of the virus spreading in Nepal as well due to free movement of people across the border. Currently, there is no restriction and screening of those arriving by air. Amid new threats of the virus resurgence, preventive measures have to be reactivated both at the government and individual levels. Infections may go out of control if we remain complacent and tend to spring into action only when it is too late. It is said that a stitch in time saves nine and regarding the COVID spread, we should leave no stone unturned regarding safety rules, screening, isolation, holding, quarantining, testing and treatment. 

The Health Ministry has already notified the stakeholders to ensure use of face masks and sanitizers in the crowded areas and public transports with the coordination of the District Security Committee, health offices, local level governments and other related agencies. The experts, however, say that there is no need to be very much worried though precaution should be high. It’s time to start preparations for possible outbreak of new wave. The concerned authorities should start more gene sequencing to find the variants. The government should speed up vaccination campaign against COVID-19 and make strong vigilance and surveillance at the international airport and border points. The concerned authorities should make PCR tests mandatory for passengers arriving from new variants spreading countries. 

According   to   the   World   Health   Organisation (WHO), there is still a possibility of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and so the campaign against its spread should continue.  The government at the moment should look for emergence of newer variants of concern by doing more genome sequencing work. This will help characterise the virus and thereby know which variant is circulating.  Taking timely precautions and preparedness on the part of medical institutions would help to minimise the possibility of virus spread, illness and fatalities.