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Nepal reported 41 new Covid-19 cases on Monday.

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 2, 337 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 36 returned positive. Likewise, 1, 021 people underwent antigen tests, of which five were tested positive.

The Ministry said that no one died of the virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that 20 infected people recovered from the disease.

As of today, there are 208 active cases in the country.

Rohingyas, who have been living in Nepal as refugees after being displaced from Myanmar, staged a stage demonstration outside the office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Kathmandu on Monday.

They staged the demonstration outside the office this morning, saying that the UNHCR cut off the financial aid it has been giving to the Rohingya refugees and their children.

Children of Rohingyas staged a sit-in outside the office of UNHCR in school uniforms.

Their parents said that they have been facing difficulties in paying school fees among others after the UNHCR cut off the financial aid.

The government of Nepal has termed the Rohingyas living in Nepal as illegal immigrants.

The UNHCR, however, has recognized them as refugees.

The District Police Office, Chitwan arrested a man with a home-made pistol and its two round bullets.  

The arrestee has been identified as Prakash BK (32) of Bharatpur metropolis-10, Swamichowk and is currently residing at Bharatpur-5, Bikaschowk. 

Police said that they have also recovered Rs 114, 000 in cash, gold chain and five mobile sets from the room of BK. 

Further investigation into the incident is underway, police said.

Patients of sickle cell anemia and thalassemia are on the rise, especially in the Tharu community in Banke. 

It was detected during medical screening of sickle cell anemia along with thalassemia in the areas having the majority of Tharu population.

According to the District Health Office, Banke, the number of patients diagnosed with sickle cell has reached 23 in Raptisonari Rural Municipality.

As details of the people examined for sickle cell have yet to be collected from other municipal units, the aggregate number of the survivors has not been ascertained in the district, said Health Office Chief Dhiraj Jung Shah. 

Though free treatment has rendered relief to the patients of sickle cell anemia to some extent, the measure has not relieved the survivors of thalassemia, he further shared. 

It has not been ascertained how many people are surviving with thalassemia. Screening was carried out among the students of grade 9 and 10 of the Tharu community in Raptisonari. It is still ongoing, he shared. 

Some of the patients commented that they have to spend tens of thousands rupees for treatment in private health institutions after complaining of several physical complications. 

The survivors have been facing trouble in their treatment when they were not aware of government-sponsored treatment up to Rs 100,000. 

Ram Krishna Tharu (28) of Raptisonari Rural Municipality-4, Baijapur in Banke said he was not informed of government arrangements for free treatment to the sickle cell anemia survivors. He added he has spent a huge chunk of money for treatment at private hospitals. 

Sickle Cell specialist Dr Rajan Pandey said patients are being compelled to spend tens of thousands of rupees even after their diagnosis. He said blood tests were the permanent solution to the sickle cell anemia. 

Apart from Raptisonari rural municipality in the district, Kohalpur municipality also has witnessed the same health issue. Authorities said the overall situation of the district can be ascertained only after collecting data from all local levels. 

It was shared that 96 people were diagnosed with sickle cell anemia and thalassemia when blood samples of 572 people were tested in a screening camp organized by the health office.