COVID-19 and Nepal: Identification of Critical Public Health Measures

Neupane, Harish Chandra; Shrestha, Niki; Adhikari, Shital; Gauli, Basanta

The COVID-19 pandemic is unfolding at an unprecedented pace. The unprecedented threat provides an opportunity to emerge with robust health systems. Nepal has implemented several containment measures such as Rapid Response Team formulation; testing; isolation; quarantine; contact tracing; surveillance, establishment of COVID-19 Crisis Management Centre and designation of dedicated hospitals to gear up for the pandemic. The national public health emergency management mechanisms need further strengthening with the proactive engagement of relevant ministries; we need a strong, real-time national surveillance system and capacity building of a critical mass of health care workers; there is a need to further assess infection prevention and control capacity; expand the network of virus diagnostic laboratories in the private sector with adequate surge capacity; implement participatory community engagement interventions and plan for a phased lockdown exit strategy enabling sustainable suppression of transmission at low-level and enabling in resuming some parts of economic and social life.