ReliefWeb

EMERGING THEME(S)

• Nepal reported 838 new COVID-19 cases, 13 deaths on September 12; Delta variant detected in all 48 samples from Nepal sent to India for whole-genome sequencing; majority of households in Soru Rural Municipality, Mathilibru suffering from fever

• Though new infections have taken a dip in Nepal, test positivity rate continues to hover around 14 per cent; public health experts warn strict restrictions or lockdowns cannot be the answer to contain the spread of the infection; test for antibodies cannot confirm if one will get COVID-19 infection or not on the level of antibodies in one’s body, says Director of National Public Health Laboratory Dr Runa Jha

• COVID-19 vaccination drive stopped in all 13 districts of Bagmati Province to protest appointment of a person from administrative section in the Provincial Health Ministry

• Budget for health sector increased by around 11,000,000,000, to be used to for the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, additional 30,000,000 doses of vaccines to be bought: Finance Minister Janardhan Sharma

• Only 27.5 per cent of households in Nepal have used online classes, according to UNICEF study; guardians and teachers wary about reopening of schools in Kathmandu Valley, have requested schools be reopened only after Dashain; Kathmandu Metropolitan City readying for reopening of physical classes for school students from September 17, schools in Budhanilkantha, Makawanpur have reopened from September 12; Sindhuli, Jhapa schools have started reopening; schools in Chitwan to reopen from September 17