Is Nepal trekking safe from the coronavirus?
Recently the outbreak of the coronavirus has brought disaster throughout the world. People all over the world are afraid due to this virus. The coronavirus was first identified in Wuhan, a city in Eastern China; however, now, the effect of the virus can be seen all over the world. More than 3,300 people have died globally from the COVID-19, as the illness is officially known. In contrast, more than 98000 infections have been confirmed in dozens of countries.
In such a condition, if you are planning to travel to Nepal, there might be some questions on your mind related to the effects of the virus in Nepal. Is Nepal Trekking safe from coronavirus? Are there any chances of getting infected while traveling to Nepal? Here we will provide some information related to these questions.
What is Corona Virus?
A coronavirus is a group of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). This virus has not been previously identified in humans. It is for the first time the virus has infected humans. Coronavirus is a family of viruses easily transmitted between animals and people. Further, the coronavirus outbreak is believed to have started when a coronavirus jumped from animals, most likely from civet cats, to humans resulting in SARS-CoV. These viruses' inclination was emphasized in 2012 when another virus was transmitted from camels to humans, causing MERS-CoV. Moreover, several coronaviruses are circulating in animals that have not yet infected humans.
Symptoms of coronavirus
Common Symptoms of infections include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. If the case is more severe, the condition can result in pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even the death of a person.
How to prevent yourself from Corona Virus?
According to WHO(World Health Organization), ten preventive measures for Coronavirus are:
Clean your hands regularly – wash with soap and water, or clean with an alcohol-based hand rub
Clean surfaces regularly with disinfectant – for example, kitchen benches and work desks;
Educate yourself about COVID-19. Make sure your information comes from reliable sources;
Avoid traveling if you have a fever or cough and if you become sick while on a flight, inform the crew immediately. Once you get to your destination, make contact with a health professional and tell them about where you have been;
Cough or sneeze into your sleeve. If using a tissue, dispose of the tissue immediately into a closed rubbish bin, and then clean your hands;
Take extra precautions to avoid crowded areas if you are over 60 years old or if you have an underlying condition;
If you feel unwell, stay at home and call your doctor or local health professional;
If you are sick, stay at home, eat and sleep separately from your family, and use different utensils and cutlery to eat.
If you feel shortness of breath, call your doctor and seek care immediately;
It’s normal and understandable to feel anxious, especially if you live in a country that has been affected. Find out what you can do in your community. Discuss how to stay safe in your workplace, school, or place of worship.
Coronavirus Cases:
98,765
Deaths:
3,389
Recovered:
55,664
List of most affected countries by coronavirus:
China:
According to the latest report, China has 80555 confirmed cases and 2984 death cases due to coronavirus infection. It is the most affected country by the coronavirus.
South Korea
Likewise, as per the current data, South Korea has confirmed 6284 confirmed cases and 4o death cases of coronavirus.
Italy
Italy is the third most affected country with 3858 confirmed cases and 148 death cases of COVID-19.
Iran
After Italy, Iran is the most affected country, with 108 death cases and 3513 confirmed coronavirus cases.
Japan
The number of affected cases is in increasing ratio in Japan also. According to the latest report, Japan has 1060 confirmed and 12 death cases due to the Corona outbreak.
It is on the list of the top five most affected countries by the novel coronavirus. However, other countries are being affected by COVID-19.
(source from world meter)
How safe is Nepal from coronavirus?
According to a recent report, Nepal is among the list of the least affected country. Nepal has only one confirmed case till now. It was found in one Nepalese student who returned to Nepal from Wuhan, China, but he has already recovered. Ministery of Health and Population announced that the first case of COVID-19 was detected in Nepal on January 23.
In addition, on Feb 16, 175 Nepali students were evacuated from China, and they were kept for observation at the quarantine zone in Kharipati, Bhaktapur. After observing them for 14 days, they were sent back to their home after the negative test result of coronavirus. Further, on March 2, 4 more people were suspected of the COVIT-19 virus, but the test result seemed to be negative.
Thus, there is just a single confirmed case that has already recovered. Also, the Nepal government is playing an active role in preventing its spread in Nepal. With the notice of the World Health Organization, Nepal Government has established a health desk at Tribhuwan International Airport to monitor the widely spread virus closely. Further, Rasuwa District Administration also set up a health center in Rasuwagdhi, Nepal-China border, to watch the people entering China correctly. Also, the government of Nepal has temporarily suspended on arrival visas to Nepal for the five countries that are highly affected by the COVID-19 virus. However, they can issue permits from the Nepal mission in other countries.
Is Nepal Trekking safe from coronavirus?
Despite having a close border with china, there have been only a few confirmed coronavirus cases in Nepal. The government of Nepal has taken preventive and proactive measures to control the spread of coronavirus in Nepal.
As per the mentioned information, it is clear that there is minimal risk of getting affected by the coronavirus in Nepal. It is excellent news for those who wish to start trekking in Nepal. When all the people worldwide are stressed due to the novel coronavirus, Nepal Trekking can be the best choice to form them to get relief from this situation. Additionally, while trekking, you move towards the remote region where few people encounter. There is very little or almost zero probability of getting infected with the COVID-19. There are several treks in Nepal where you can have a wonderful time. These trekking routes take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city areas and leave you with pristine nature.
Finally, we can say that Nepal trekking is safe from the coronavirus.
