NCOVID – 19 Threat | NEPAL TOURISM Status Update

RAJ GYAWALI·TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020

Kathmandu | 25th February, 2020

This is to bring you all the updates on the current status of Nepal regarding the threat of the Wuhan Coronavirus (COVID 19).

According to the Ministry of Health Government of Nepal, a Nepali national who was confirmed to be infected with the Novel Coronavirus is now fully recovered. He has been discharged from the hospital within the week once the last observations on the test results were done. (Source: Ministry of Health, Government of Nepal)

To date, besides the above-mentioned case no other Nepali or citizen of another country has been identified as being infected by the virus. (Source: Ministry of Health – Government of Nepal)

The 175 university students and Nepali nationals who were brought to Nepal on the 14th of February 2020, from Wuhan, China, were sent to the special quarantine unit away from human settlements with all modern testing and monitoring facilities. They will remain in quarantine for 2 weeks before being tested for a final time before their discharge. The unit is fully equipped with all the necessary medical facilities needed for the isolation and the treatment of the individuals – if confirmed infected. So far none of them have shown signs of the infection nor confirmed as being infected by the virus, despite repeated tests. (Source: Ministry of Health – Government of Nepal)

The security measures taken at the Airports, Land Borders and Hospitals etc are still active in the same manner and a special Task Force team is actively overseeing the measures taken, under the direct supervision of the ministry of health. The Ministry is also furnishing a daily SITREP to the World Health Organisation (Source: Health Ministry – Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN)

Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital (STIDH) – Kathmandu is now equipped with a special unit with all the required medical / staffing facilities and is ready to serve the public in any situation that might occur. Other hospitals under the instruction of the Ministry of Health have certain sections isolated and kept ready for any eventuality should that arise. (Source: Ministry of Health – Government of Nepal)

Also, the general public is continuously being educated on preventative measures needed in order to minimise the risk of getting infected, via a joint effort of WHO and the Ministry of Health, media channels and through regional health departments.

As a whole, we are pleased to inform everyone that Nepal doing what it can in the face of the COVID 19 threat and can responsibly state that to date, the country remains OK for travel. Should there be any changes on the ground we will keep you updated. Nepal’s distinct advantage is that we have only one international airport, which has a very small amount of transit passengers and since its a small airport, not too many flights.

As of now, no cancellations nor alterations are required for travel to Nepal.

Please visit the World Health Organization (WHO) link below for safety tips while travelling

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public