Nepal: COVID-19 Update

Official Website 

• The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP)
  The ministry provides the national context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The site includes information regarding the latest situation, guidance regarding healthcare and patient care, the latest news reports, and IEC material (English & Nepali).

 Reports & Guidelines  

• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Case Investigation and Contact Tracing of COVID-19
  The guideline provides an explanation of case investigations for the time containment of the outbreak and to establish the source/cause of the infection. It also provides details on isolation and the prevention of additional transmission (English). 

• Nepal Medical Council Interim Guidance for Infection Prevention and Control When COVID-19 Is Suspected
  The interim guidance was issued to manage infection, prevention, and control of suspected COVID-19 infections. It supports healthcare workers and institutes in taking the appropriate measures for suspected and proven cases (English).  

• ToR – Case Investigation & Contact Tracing Team per Province
  The terms of reference (ToR) has been developed as a reference to case investigation and contact tracing of COVID-19 at the provincial level (English). 

• Guidelines for the Use of PPE During the Care of Patients
  The Nepali Medical Council and the Government of Nepal have used World Health Organization’s (WHO) references to develop a guideline for personal protective equipment (PPE) use when caring for COVID-19 patients (English & Nepali).  

• COVID-19 Patients Transport Teams (PTT) Guidelines
  The guideline provides detailed directions to transport COVID-19 patients in order to prevent the transmission of the virus (Nepali).  

• COVID-19 IEC
  The handbook provides guidelines for the prevention, and control of COVID-19. It provides information on the conduction and significance of home quarantine, the national guidelines for quarantine management, the importance of social distances, basic hygiene measures against COVID-19 (Nepali).

• Clinical Management of COVID-19 in Health Care Setting
  The updated guideline seeks to expand the scope of information with recommendations from the Nepal Medical Council (NMCs) and COVID -19 Clinical Management: Living Guidance. It also includes data from the Clinical Care for Severe Acute Respiratory Infection: Toolkit: COVID-19 Adaptation and advice from subject matter experts (English).

• Health Emergency Operation Center Network of Nepal: The Voyage and the Vista
  The report documents the challenges, goals, and milestones in expanding Health Emergency Operation Center to the Public Health Emergency Operation Center (English).

• Enhanced Surveillance On Sero-Prevalence Of Sars-Cov-2 in the General Population
  The study is the first serosurvey conducted from a planned series of seroprevalence studies for COVID-19 in Nepal. Research has found an estimated national seroprevalence was 14.4% (95% CI, 11.8-17.0). The actual infection prevalence is far greater than the observed case prevalence observed through routine surveillance systems (English).
  

• Rapid Hospital Readiness Facility Assessment Checklist for COVID-19
  The assessment report presents the fifteen key components that play a crucial role in better hospital management. It also considers how prolonged outbreaks such as COVID-19 can result in increasing service demands that may potentially overwhelm the capacity of hospitals and health systems at large (English).

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)  for Step-down for Facility in Hub-hospitals of  Nepal
  The SOP provides the terms of reference which can be used by the hub-hospitals to ensure the standardization of services as well as ease the transition to the inclusive emergency health management operation at an appropriate time (English).
  

• Management Protocol of Children with COVID-19
  The guidance document details the proper management of COVID-19 among the pediatric population. This management protocol is expected to help relevant health workers properly manage pediatric cases and standardize the management of pediatric cases (English).

• Smart Lockdown Operating Procedure for Minimizing Risk from COVID-19
  The document explains the stepwise procedure to implement Smart Lockdown for COVID-19 for operating public services and financial activities (Nepali).

• Pocket Book for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Measures for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings (2nd Edition)
  The pocketbook supports all staff working in health care settings applying appropriate IPC strategies and measures while performing tasks e.g., environmental cleaning and providing care to patients including those with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection (English).

• National Guideline: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
  The guideline provides a uniform protocol for the diagnosis and management of Acute, Respiratory Distress Syndrome and helps in the capacity building of health workers of various levels which will eventually strengthen the health system of the country (English).
• Travel Advisory for People Traveling From and To Nepal, in COVID Situation
  The document provides advisory on COVID-19 rules and regulations for the national and international visitor on both inbound and outbound travel (Nepali).

• Health Care Waste Management in the Context of COVID-19 Emergency
  The guideline responds to the current crisis and incrementally improves the situation through the use of locally viable technology having comparatively low risk on both public health by controlling the spread of the COVID-19 infection and environmental impact (English).
  

• Evidence Note: Effective Measures to Control Transmission of COVID-19
  The evidence note details the national measures being taken to control COVID-19 transmission. It provides information on effective screening measures, asymptomatic cases, case detection at points of entry, the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), travel restrictions, school closures, contract tracing and isolation, mass gathering, and over recommendation in the context of the country (English).
• Evidence Note: the Landscape of Diagnostic Tests for COVID-19
  The evidence note summarizes the relevant diagnostic tests that are available for COVID-19 detection. It also details how various countries are increasing COVID-19 testing as well as the rapid diagnostic test that is considered to have satisfactory quality according to the Indian Council on Medical Research (English).
• Evidence Note: the Clinical Spectrum of COVID-19
  The evidence note details and categorizes the clinical spectrum of COVID-19. It also summarizes the comorbidities amongst patients, across age groups, and clinical features as well as laboratory and radiological findings (English).
• Evidence Note: COVID-19 Vaccine Update
  The evidence note details the progress and development of the COVID-19 vaccine. It also provides an overview of the earlier epidemic and pandemics, the vaccine development process, the types of COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 virus variants, and immunization strategies and actions in the country (English).
• Nepal COVID-19 Weekly Situation Report (as of 21 February 2022)
  The document provides a weekly COVID situation report. It summarizes the national cases and testing scenario, national vaccine updates, good hygiene practices, and changing work habits for the pandemic (English).

Infographics & Posters

• What is COVID-19 and Preventive Measures
  The ministry details the preventative measures one should take against COVID-19 (Nepali). 

• Reduce Your Risk
  The ministry has developed 15 posters that explain the preventative measures for COVID-19; this information includes information regarding food safety, wet markets, and traveling (English). 

• Protocol for ILI Clinics
  The protocol was established for Influenza-like illness (ILI) clinics that are also screening for cases of COVID-19. It provides procedures for suspected cases based on symptoms (English). 

• Clinical Approach to a Patient with Suspected COVID-19
  The guideline has been developed based on WHO guidelines to detail the clinical management of COVID 19 patients (English). 

• Protocol for COVID-19 Screening at Point of Entry
  The point of screening is developed by the MoHP based on WHO guidelines regarding the point of screening, and entry screening of the suspected COVID-19 patients. It also provides a protocol for health care facilities in the context of these cases (English). 

• COVID-19 Poster
  The posters have been developed to provide an illustrative depiction of the basic preventative measures that are globally practiced in order to prevent COVID-19 (Nepali).  

• Public Health Standard Graphics for COVID-19
  The infographic provides information on mandatory health standards and rules that need to be followed. It encourages people to follow these regulations such as maintaining a physical distance of two meters (six feet) and wearing surgical masks in public places and offices (Nepali).

Videos

• What Is Coronavirus and How to Protect Yourself
  The MoHP has created a radio public service announcement (PSA) regarding  COVID-19. It provides the necessary information about coronavirus and how to protect oneself (Nepali).

* Cover by Unsplash.