Show me the numbers

Nepali news organisations have been underwhelming in their approach to data analysis. This has been particularly worrisome during a deadly pandemic.

As a people, we love rituals, be it Indra Jatra rites or the everyday rounds of temples in the morning. A new ritual has now imprinted itself on our minds. This one occurs every evening around 4 pm, when the Health Ministry spokesperson reads out new Covid-19 figures for the day. We wait with bated breath, keep our fingers crossed, and mentally compare the numbers to the previous day.