KATHMANDU: Omicron, a new variant of the coronavirus is expected to spread widely taking the daily infection cases tally to 15 to 20 thousand daily.

According to health experts, the number of daily infections will increase alarmingly from next week.

Dr. Manisha Rawal, director of Teku Hospital, said that 15,000 to 20,000 corona infections could be added daily in a week.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) has already projected that in the next few weeks, more than 15,000 corona infections could be added daily,” she said.

Dr. Rawal assured that there is not to panic at the spread of the Omicron as this variant is less deadly than the previous ‘Delta variant.’

“Looking at the condition of the coronavirus patients who have been admitted to the hospital so far, this variant is less deadly than before,” she said.

According to Dr. Rawal, as the health workers are kept in a ready position by giving a booster dose, the health service provided by the hospital will not be affected much despite the increasing number of cases.

As of Tuesday, seven coronavirus-infected patients have been admitted to Teku Hospital in isolation while five others are undergoing treatment in the ICU.

Similarly, Dr. Ravi Shakya, director of Patan Hospital, said that the infection rate could be higher in the fourth week of January.

He believes that the corona infection rate will increase with the rise of cold.

“10,000 to 15,000 infected people can be added daily,” he said.

“Currently, only 80 doctors working at Patan Hospital are in home isolation due to corona infection. The number might increase, but we have kept the medical students in readiness so that there is no problem in treatment,” Dr. Shakya said.

It is feared that there is a shortage of health workers in the hospital due to the increasing cases of coronavirus in the health workers.

More than 300 employees of Maharajgunj based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH)have tested COVID-19 positive in this third wave. The service of the hospital has been affected due to the increasing cases of health workers.

Corona Focal Person of TUTH Dr. Niraj Bam informed that the service of medical ICU has been affected due to lack of human resources. Most of the health workers there got infected with coronavirus of late.

“The medical ICU has experienced the shortage of manpower,” he said, adding, “We are unable to admit new patients despite having beds as our manpower is curtailed due to coronavirus infection.”

Health workers at COVID Unified Hospital Bir Hospital fare no better fate as well. 133 health workers of this hospital have been living in home isolation till Tuesday.

According to Dr. Prajwal Shrestha, Deputy Director of the hospital, the treatment has not been affected at Bir Hospital even though the health workers themselves have been infected.

Dr. Shrestha told Khabarhub that the contract period of the temporary staff has been extended by three months in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Population so that there is no shortage of treatment. He claims that this will prevent the infection hampering the regular service at the hospital.

Dr. Krishna Poudel, Director at the Epidemiology & Disease Control Division under the Department of Health Services estimates the COVID-19 infection might reach around 14,000 daily by next week.

According to him, eighty-five percent of those infected have a general effect and 10 percent need to go to the hospital, while less than five percent need ICU and ventilator support.

Secretary at the Ministry of Health Population, Dr. Roshan Pokharel, said that the infection rate is estimated to increase to 20,000 in a single day. He estimates that 10 percent of those infected will need to be hospitalized.

According to the Ministry of Health, there are currently 8,202 isolation beds, 3,846 HDUs, 2,797 ICUs, and 1,008 ventilator beds across the country.