With 9,238 new COVID-19 cases recorded across the country on Wednesday, the number of active COVID cases has reached 101,634.

Of yesterday’s new COVID caseload, 3,924 were from the Kathmandu Valley alone. As many as 94,343 of the active cases are staying in home isolation, while 7,291 are hospitalized.

As many as 168 COVID patients died across the country on Wednesday.

Likewise, the Kathmandu Valley has 41,918 active cases at present with 30,588 in Kathmandu, 6,716 in Lalitpur, and 4,614 in Bhaktapur.

Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa, Rautahat, Dhanusha, Parsa, Mahottari, Bara, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Kavrepalanchowk, Makawanpur, Nuwakot, Dhading, Kaski, Gorkha, Nawalparasi (East), Dang, Banke, Rupandehi, Palpa, Bardiya, Kapilvastu, Nawalparasi (West) Surkhet, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Baitadi, and Achham districts have more than 500 active COVID cases each and are under prohibitory orders.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 1,241 COVID patients are admitted at intensive care units of various hospitals across country.

Of them, 162 critically ill are in Province 1, 180 in Province 2, 502 in Bagmati, 87 in Gandaki, 163 in Lumbini, 101 in Karnali, and 46 in Sudurpaschim.

Similarly, 285 of them are on ventilator support — 38 in Province 1, 41 in Province 2, 164 in Bagmati, 15 in Gandaki, six in Lumbini, eight in Karnali, and 13 in Sudurpaschim.

Nepal’s COVID caseload has reached 422,349, including 316,463 recoveries and 4,252 deaths.

So far, 74.9 per cent of COVID patients have recovered in Nepal.

Meanwhile, various government hospitals across country have started to make relatives of COVID-infected patients sign an agreement that pledges not to blame the hospital, doctors, nurses or any other staff if patients die due to lack of oxygen.

Critically ill COVID patients are dying across country after the government set out quota and a provision to get Health Ministry’s recommendation for hospitals to procure medical oxygen.

As many as 160 COVID patients are currently admitted at Bir Hospital and they require 300 oxygen cylinders per day. The COVID-19 Crisis Management Center (CMC) has set a quota of 300 cylinders per day for the hospital, while the hospital’s oxygen plant produces 150 cylinders and buys 30 cylinders daily.

TU Teaching Hospital has 345 COVID patients and requires 300 oxygen cylinders daily. CCMC has set a quota of 150 cylinders daily while the hospital is supplied only 100 cylinders every day.

Similarly, Civil Hospital is treating 84 COVID patients at present and needs more than 100 oxygen cylinders daily. CCMC has set a quota of 60 cylinders and the hospital is receiving a supply of merely 30 cylinders daily from the government.

Nepal Police Hospital has 263 COVID patients and needs 250 oxygen cylinders, CCMC has set a quota of 100 cylinders for the hospital. The hospital’s oxygen plant produces 14-80 cylinders daily and gets a supply of 70 cylinders.

Bhaktapur Hospital is treating 74 COVID patients as of Wednesday and requires 200 oxygen cylinders daily. CCMC has set a quota of 50 cylinders and zero cylinders are being supplies to the hospital at present.

Likewise, National Ayurveda Hospital is treating 143 COVID patients and requires more than 100 oxygen cylinders daily. CCMC has set a quota of 25 cylinders daily, but the hospital gets only 20-25 cylinders per day.