Kathmandu, April 15 -- As Nepal plunges headlong into thesecond wave of Covid-19, the new surge is infecting more young people and children than before and making them sicker. This has raised fears that the highly contagious and sometimes deadlier UK variant B.1.1.7 is now spreading in the community.

Despite this, Nepalis celebrated New Year parties this week andthronged town squares in the Valley for various festivals, like the Biska and Sindur Jatra (pictured above).

Prativa Pandey of the CIWEC Clinic says, "We are allowing political demonstration and festival celebrations as if there is no second wave, leaders must set an example of what is acceptable and what is not."

Of the 603 new cases confirmed on Wednesday, 70 were children un...