KATHMANDU: The graph of COVID-19 has been on the rise in Nepal since the last week.

The new cases of COVID-19 that was recorded at 100 on July 10 was almost five times higher on Monday at 457.

Similarly, the number of active cases that stood at 678 on July 10 has climbed to 1,776.

On July 17, a person succumbed to the flu-like infection while today saw another COVID-19 related fatality.

The infection rate has been spiking steadily since the beginning of July. On July 11, 168 new cases of COVID-19 were reported, on July 12, 177 new cases while 206 were recorded on July 13, 260 on July 14, 229 on July 15.

Likewise, 205 new cases of Coronavirus infection were recorded on July 16 and 135 on July 17.

The infection rate that was 0.5 per cent has reached 9.82 per cent at present. Kathmandu has over 500 active cases of COVID-19.

The active and new cases of COVID-19 in Nepal were on rise alongside increase of the infection in India, said Dr Chuman Lal Das, Director at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.

Dr Das further said, “COVID-19 infection is rising in India daily. Thousands of people are entering Nepal from India through Nepal-India border. Infection has been detected on those entering Nepal from those border points. Those people are spreading the infection.”

He viewed that lack of enforcement and adherence of public health criteria and health safety protocols, COVID-19 infection was going up in Nepal.

All have been advised to wear mask, avoid crowds, wash hand with soap and maintain physical distance among others to prevent COVID-19 spread.

The study of gene sequencing in Nepal showed that BA5, the sub-variant of Omicron, has been detected in Nepal.

This sub-variant is highly contagious. Dr Das said that hospitals and labs would be kept in standby mode with the increasing cases of COVID-19 in the country of late.

Dr Manisha Rawal, Director at the Sukraraj Tropical and Communicable Diseases Hospital, shared that patients started coming for treatment at the Hospital since last week.

The Hospital recorded first COVID-19 patient in the Nepali month Aashad (mid-June to mid-July) since the third wave in last February.

A total of five COVID-19 patients were being treated at the Hospital at present.

Among them, one was availing treatment in ICU facility while remaining four in regular cabin.