Government on high alert: Numbers of isolation wards, ICU, oxygen cylinders doubled

Coronavirus infection rate is increasing in Nepal. The government has instructed the hospitals to be on high alert as the spread of new variant 'Omicron' is increasing rapidly all around the world. The second wave, seen last May, caused an unexpected loss of life and property due to the oxygen crisis and lack of ICU beds.

According to Dr Samir Adhikari, Joint Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Population, there will be no such problem even if Omicron spreads this time due to pre-preparation in the hospitals.

‘In the first wave, health infrastructure was not built, health institutions were preparing for epidemic control. The second wave showed a lack of oxygen and beds. But now there is no such problem, ” he explains.

Omicron variant is spreading rapidly in many countries including USA and UK. In Nepal, the number of Omicron patients has reached 27. Experts have expressed concern that the Omicron infection may increase in a few weeks. Adhikari said that the government has already instructed the hospital to be on high alert incase of third wave.

Similarly, the ministry has doubled the numbers of isolation wards, High-dependency unit, ventilator, oxygen cylinder and concentrator plants than before informs Adhikari.

According to the ministry, there are 8,202 isolation wards, 324 High-dependency unit (HDU), 2,797 ICU beds and 1,008 ventilator beds across the country.

Numbers of wards, ICU across the nation:
There are 13 thousand 939 cylinders in the country. Similarly, there are 693 oxygen concentrators and 47 oxygen plants. Kathmandu Valley alone has 2,494 isolation, 324 HDU beds, 445 ICU beds and 254 ventilators, according to the ministry.

Similarly, State 1 has 819 isolation beds, 568 HDU beds, 342 ACU beds and 148 ventilator beds. There are 1,014 oxygen cylinders, 66 oxygen concentrators and 5 oxygen plants.

State 2 has 1,680 isolation, 695 HDU beds, 396 ACU beds and 124 ventilator beds. There are 2,368 oxygen cylinders, 36 oxygen concentrators and 3 oxygen plants.

In Bagmati, there are 283 isolation beds, 191 HDU beds, 4 ACU beds and 124 ventilator beds and 2,368 oxygen cylinders, 36 oxygen concentrators and 3 oxygen plants.

Gandaki has 651 isolation beds, 444 HDU beds, 228 ACU beds and 82 ventilator beds. Similarly, there are 2,305 oxygen cylinders, 85 oxygen concentrators and 13 oxygen plants.

Similarly, Lumbini has 452 isolation beds, 640 HDU beds, 239 ACU beds and 56 ventilator beds with 2,766 oxygen cylinders, 69 oxygen concentrators and 7 oxygen plants.

Karnali has 607 isolation beds, 96 HDU beds, 97 ACU beds and 35 ventilator beds. There are 2,405 oxygen cylinders, 80 oxygen concentrators and 3 oxygen plants.

In the far west, there are 710 isolation beds, 213 HDU beds, 72 ACU beds and 31 ventilator beds. There are 1,391 oxygen cylinders, 199 oxygen concentrators and 4 oxygen plants.

The ministry has been urging everyone to get vaccinated, and to fully comply with public health standards to stop the spread of the new variant.

Similarly, the Ministry has provided S-Gene screening facility to Veer Hospital, Civil Servants Hospital (Civil), Virendra Sainik Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, State Public Health Laboratory, State 2 and Bheri Hospital to detect Omicron variant.