Kathmandu, Nepal (CNN) In Nepal, a situation is unfolding that looks chillingly familiar.

Covid-19 cases are skyrocketing, hospitals are overwhelmed, and the country’s Prime Minister is pleading for help from other nations.

Nepal is now reporting about 20 daily Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people — about the same number as India was reporting two weeks ago.

Last weekend, 44% of Nepal’s Covid tests came back positive, according to government figures quoted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), as it warned of an impending crisis.

“What is happening in India right now is a horrifying preview of Nepal’s future if we cannot contain this latest Covid surge that is claiming more lives by the minute,” Nepal’s Red Cross chairperson, Dr. Netra Prasad Timsina, said in a statement.

The virus’ rapid spread has raised fears Nepal is teetering on the brink of a crisis just as devastating as India’s — if not worse.

Nepal has a fragile health system, with fewer doctors per capita than India, and a lower vaccination rate than its neighbor. The country’s high test positivity rate suggests it isn’t catching nearly enough cases.

Mass public events, including festivals, political gatherings and weddings, have allowed cases to spread, along with general public complacency and slow government action.

“The situations are worsening day by day and it may go out of control in future,” Dr Samir Adhikari, a spokesperson for Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population, said Monday.

Although Nepal has tightened borders and imposed lockdowns in its worst-hit regions — including the capital — some fear that won’t be enough to contain the virus as it spreads through the capital, and even as far as Everest Base CampShops closed during the first day of lockdown in Kathmandu, Nepal, April 29, 2021.

A porous border

Only a month ago this Himalayan nation of 31 million people was reporting about 100 cases a day. Now, it’s more than 8,600.

Some have blamed that on India’s raging second wave spilling over into Nepal, which shares long, open land border with its neighbor.

Nepalis don’t need to show their passport or ID card to enter their country, and many Nepali people have businesses in India, and vice versa, meaning cross-border traffic is high. In recent weeks, some Indians have fled their country’s second wave, hoping to access health care in Nepal or escape to a third country, Adhikari said.

“It’s very hard to stop all the mobility between the two countries,” he added.

In recent days, Nepal tightened those rules. Nepali citizens can now only cross from India at 13 out of 35 border points, according to Nepal’s Foreign Minister, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali.

But returnees need to be tested at the border, according to Shankar Bahadur Bista, assistant chief district officer of Banke district, which borders India.

Anyone who test negative can go home — but positive cases must enter a quarantine facility or hospital, he added.

However, Dr Sameer Mani Dixit, a Nepal-based public health research scientist, says those measures came too late — the virus was already spreading within the country.

Large-scale gatherings

Nepal’s crisis began building in early April, as the country’s Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli touted yet another unproven coronavirus remedy.

Oli said the illness could be treated by gargling with guava leaves, adding to his ridiculed comments last year that Nepalis had stronger immune systems due to their daily intake of spices.

As April progressed, Nepalis gathered for religious festivals at home and across the border in India, where Nepali devotees joined Hindus who bathed in the Ganges for Kumbh Mela, one of the world’s biggest religious gatherings.

They included Nepal’s former King Gyanendra Shah and Queen Komal Shah, who were admitted to hospital with Covid-19 on their return to Nepal, according to a statement from Norvic International Hospital in Kathmandu.

Around the same time, thousands of Nepalis gathered in the capital to celebrate the major religious festival Pahan Charhe. Others came together in Bhaktapur, a nearby city to celebrate Bisket Jatra, despite authorities ordering them not to, according to local media. One placard in support of the event read: “Our festival is dearer than our lives to us.”

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At Least One Person Climbing Mt. Everest Has Tested Positive

BBC- Norwegian climber Erlend Ness was isolated in hospital for eight nights due to the virus, he told the BBC.

Reports say a sherpa in his party had also tested positive for the virus.

The outbreak is a blow to Nepal, which relies heavily on income generated from Everest expeditions.

Mr Ness is unsure where he could have caught the virus, but raised the possibility of catching it whilst in one of the tea houses along the Khumbu Valley.

He added that he could have “done more” to protect himself, such as being more diligent with handwashing, and wearing a mask all day.

“Not many people used masks on the trek,” recalled Mr Ness, who had been feeling sick for about six days in the mountains before being evacuated on April 15 by helicopter.

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He was taken to two different hospitals in the Nepali capital Kathmandu, and tested positive for the virus three times.

He has since recovered – testing negative on April 22 – and is now staying with friends in the city.

Hundreds of foreign climbers are expected to attempt the ascent this spring season, which began in April, after the slopes were shut off due to the pandemic.

Aside from wider tourism revenue, Nepal earns $4m (£3.1m) by issuing Everest climbing permits every year, according to the Kathmandu Post.

All travellers entering Nepal must present a negative Covid report, taken within 72 hours of their first flight, according to Nepal’s Department of Immigration.

Passengers from counties with new Covid variants will be subject to an additional 10 days of hotel quarantine. If a test comes back negative after five days, they will be allowed to spend their remaining five days in home quarantine.

Reporting by the BBC’s Waiyee Yip.

 

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Six goals were scored on Sunday in the SKNFA Premier League but both matches ended in draws. Despite taking an early lead, Fast Cash Saddlers had to settle for a 2-2 draw versus St. Peters F.C. The young Shaheem Prentice of St. Peters, buoyed by his debut goal last week against Bath United, scored both goals for St. Peters in the 26th and 42nd minutes, giving his team a 2-1 lead going into half time.

Stephan Rawlins got the goalscoring off for Saddlers in the 4th minute. But it was freekick expert Evansroy Barnes who ensured that Saddlers, that were previously on a four-game losing streak, would walk away with something from this match. Barnes scored a stunning freekick from yards out, beating the wall and the keeper into the back of the net. 

The weekend’s marquee matchup between former champions Rams Village Superstars and title contenders Garden Hotspurs ended in a 1-1 draw. Kimaree Rogers gave Village the lead in the 37th minute, but Shervin Allen, left unmarked in the 18-yard box, restored parity in the 72nd minute. Once again, Village was forced to finish the match with 10 men after Mazari Hodge was sent off for picking up two yellow cards in the 29th and 80th minute. In Village’s last match, Joseph Wilkes earned a red card even before a ball was kicked in the second half after he picked up in his second yellow card. Village lost that match 1-0 to S-Krave Newtown United and Sunday’s result meant the former champions have gone two games without a win.

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Trafalgar Southstars registered their first win of the season with a dramatic 4-2 victory over TGE Dieppe Bay Eagles on Saturday in the SKNFA Premier League at the Warner Park Football Stadium. Ronaldo Nisbett got Southstars off the mark with a stunning turnaround strike in the 15th minute to send his team into halftime with a slender lead. The second half was a complete turnaround for Dieppe Bay and for a moment it seems they were on course to winning the match. Shawn Dasent equalized for Dieppe Bay in the 48th minute and Georgel Dickenson doubled the lead in the 63rd minute. 

Southstars however seemed to have found a new gear after that goal and five minutes later Shomari Hanley found the equalizer for his team. Nisbett found the back of the net again in the 80th minute and Dylon Morton with a brilliant solo effort shrugged off two defenders and slot one past the Dieppe Bay goalkeeper to seal the 4-2 win. This was a welcome result for Southstars after getting their first point of the season with a midweek goalless draw versus Saddlers. The SKNFA Premier League Live commentary team provided analysis of the match. “Good week for Southstars. Getting their first point and now getting their first victory,” said commentator Esington Watts in the Premier League Postgame Show “It was an enjoyable game…normally bottom of the table clash you might find it one sided…it seems more competitive at the bottom of the table than at the top.”

 

In the second of Saturday night’s double header, 

SOL ISLAND AUTO CONAREE 1 – 1 S – KRAVE NEWTOWN UTD 

(Head coach: Alexis Richards)           (Head coach: Keithroy Saddler) 

Scoring for Newtown 

Dagena Roberts 58th min

Scoring for Conaree 

Kadeen Lewis 85th min 

Coach of Conaree Al Richards was pleased for the draw.  “It was a very good game from both teams but all in all I am glad for the draw,” he said.

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With some high profile matches in this past weekend’s SKNFA premier league ending in draws, three teams enjoyed victories. Two of those teams won on Friday night when MFCR United Old Road Jets defeated Hotsprings Bath United 2-0 and S.L. Horsfords St. Paul’s United dismissed Flow 4G Cayon Rockets 3-0. Tiquanny Williams scored both goals for Old Road, who are now back to winning ways after suffering a losing streak and a draw in their last few matches. Williams scored in the 85th and 90th minute. It was a credit to Bath who held their opponents scoreless for 85 minutes, had it not been for two blunders that cost them the match. 

All the SKNFA Premier League matches were streamed live on the SKNFA Facebook page. In the post-match analysis, Loshaun Dixon and Essington Watts spoke about Old Road returning to winning ways and Bath United playing good football despite the loss. “It’s a heartbreaking moment for the Nevisian team,” Watts said. “They held out for 85 minutes and just some blunders and a goal scorer like Tiquanny Williams with great finishing instinct was able to capitalize on the mistakes,” he added. 

In Friday night’s second match, defending champions S.L. Horsfords St. Paul’s United proved why they are favorites to repeat this season after they dispatched title contenders Flow 4G Cayon Rockets. This is the second time in a week that St. Paul’s defeated the team that was ranked second in the table, after defeating Spurs that was ranked second last week. Jovaughn Leader got the goalscoring off in the 38th minute followed by Vinceroy Nelson 10 minutes later with a stunning free-kick yards out. Nelson, a former Cayon player celebrated his goal in front the Cayon bench as if to send a message to his old side. Anthony Caines, who came off the bench in the dying moments of the game scored in the 5th minute of stoppage time. 

Assistant coach of Cayon Jazza Buchanan said they played well in the first half to limit St. Paul’s chances and capitalize on their weakness. However, they gave St. Paul’s chances to score from set pieces which plays into their hands. “We can’t afford to give them anything in those areas because they are very good at set pieces,” Buchanan said. 

For St. Paul’s, their manager Derionne Edmeade said Cayon bossed them around in the first half and they had to make changes in the second half, despite leading 1-0. “We went into the second half and make the adjustments. We realized that we had to match Cayon’s energy based on how they were playing in the first half, he said. “We really had to look at what they were really doing and figure out what we were not doing properly and after making the adjustments I think we came out second half with St. Paul’s playing St. Paul’s football,” he explained.

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THE ISLAND of St. Kitts and Nevis has pledged financial and humanitarian support of up to $1 million for St. Vincent and the Grenadines following a volcanic eruption.

Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris made the announcement in the aftermath of a series of eruptions of the ‘La Soufriere’ volcano in the north-eastern part of St. Vincent.Support is expected to include providing accommodation for evacuees and resettling citizens and residents from the danger zone around the volcano.

They plan to also provide human resources through the Regional Security System (RSS) recruited from the Defence and Police Forces to support humanitarian activities, provide technical support and keep peace efforts on the ground.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) have also released of a sum of $20,000 for its Special Emergency Assistance Fund.

Other Caribbean islands including Antigua, Grenada, and St Lucia have also pledged their support by opening up their doors to those evacuating.

More than 100 people have been taken to St Lucia so far already and the Royal Caribbean and other cruise ship companies have also been helping evict residents.

In a statement, the St Kitts and Nevis government said: “The Government and people of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis stand in solidarity with the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines during this very difficult time brought about by the volcanic eruption in that Country. St. Kitts and Nevis has always stood in strong support of our OECS Member States in their time of difficulty and need.

“Our prayers are with the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines at this most challenging time.”

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Ten weeks after taking his first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris today (May 04) visited the Sylvia Garnette Primary Health Care Facility in his hometown of Tabernacle where he was administered his second vaccine shot and will be deemed fully vaccinated in two weeks time.

Prime Minister Harris was one of about 70 persons to take the vaccine when the Government rolled out its mass vaccination programme on February 22.

After taking his second jab, the honourable prime minister used the opportunity to encourage citizens and residents of St. Kitts and Nevis, who have not yet done so, to take the free COVID-19 vaccine at the earliest possible time to help the country attain its goal of reaching herd immunity. 

“As part of the life saving strategy, the critical component in that battle was the vaccines and that the health advice was that every country should try to achieve at least 70 percent of the population being vaccinated. It is a tall order but a necessary order which we must achieve if we are to put our countries and our societies back to work,” Prime Minister Harris said.

Joining the prime minister today at the Sylvia Garnette Primary Health Care Facility in taking their second vaccine jab were Attorney General, the Honourable Vincent Byron; Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hilroy Brandy and Commander of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, Lieutenant Colonel J. Anthony Comrie.

A number of persons also seized the opportunity to take their first shot of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

At other centers in St. Kitts, other members of the Cabinet including Minister of Health, the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett took their second vaccine shot as well. A significant number of medical practitioners also were administered their second dose along with senior government officials.

To those who are still hesitant in taking the vaccine, Prime Minister Harris reminded them that COVID-19 is still very much a deadly disease that continues to wreak havoc around the world.

He said, “COVID-19 is a dangerous virus. It has killed and will continue to kill. It has turned almost every country it has visited upside down. Today as we speak, Trinidad and Tobago is under lockdown. Today as we speak, in parts of Jamaica the situation is still dangerously bad. Today as we speak, within the Caribbean region hundreds of persons have lost their lives.”

At the end of day on Saturday, May 01, a total of 12,857 persons had taken their first shot of the vaccine, representing 38.9 percent of the Government’s target population.

On April 27, 2021, Prime Minister Harris announced several changes to the country’s COVID-19 protocols that will benefit persons who are fully vaccinated, that is, persons who have taken two doses of a 2-dose regimen vaccine.

Among the changes is the reduction in the quarantine period for fully vaccinated inbound air travelers to St. Kitts and Nevis from 14 days to 9 days effective May 01. Moreover, effective May 20, fully vaccinated spectators can access venues of amateur and recreational sporting events such as football and basketball matches and athletic meets.

 

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Brazil’s former health minister told a parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday that President Jair Bolsonaro’s right-wing government knew full well that the treatment they were advocating for COVID-19 patients had no scientific basis.

Luiz Henrique Mandetta, who was fired last April by Bolsonaro for not agreeing to push the malaria drug chloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment, testified before a parliamentary inquiry into the handling of the pandemic that has killed more than 408,000 Brazilians.

The Senate investigation is expected to hurt the president politically 17 months ahead of elections by showing the country that his opposition to lockdowns and social distancing measures, his failure to secure vaccines and the touting of unproven treatments deepened the crisis Brazil is now in.

“I warned Bolsonaro systematically of the consequences of not adopting the recommendations of science to fight COVID-19,” Mandetta told the commission.

The minister said he was called to a cabinet meeting with the president, where there was a plan to change the official indications for use of the old anti-malaria drug to say it could be prescribed for COVID-19.

Antonio Barra Torres, president of Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa who was also at the meeting, said that could not be done.

“The government was aware that it was prescribing chloroquine without any scientific evidence,” Mandetta said.

Brazil has the highest death toll in the world from COVID-19 after the United States, and third in total coronavirus infections after the United States and India

The South American country is so short of vaccine supplies that several big cities have not been able to administer second doses. Some intensive care wards have run out of oxygen and drugs needed to sedate intubated COVID-19 patients.

The United States is working to give Brazil access to $20 million worth of medication used for patients in need of mechanical breathing assistance. The medications will come from the U.S. government’s strategic stockpile and will be delivered in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization, the White House said on Tuesday.

The Senate investigation has called up other former health ministers, including General Eduardo Pazuello, who was picked by Bolsonaro after two ministers were removed for not backing his chloroquine treatment plan.

Bolsonaro’s championing of chloroquine mirrored former U.S. President Donald Trump’s lobbying for use of the related drug hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment despite a lack of scientific evidence of any benefit for those patients.

Bolsonaro admired Trump and shares many of his ideological views, including playing down the severity of the pandemic.

Pazuello was due to testify on Wednesday, but said he could no appear because he had been in contact with two army colonels who tested positive for COVID-19. His testimony has been rescheduled for May 19.

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