Evacuated 175 Nepalis free of coronavirus: Health Ministry

KATHMANDU, Feb 19: All the 175 Nepalis, who were evacuated from Hubei province of China, are not infected with the novel coronavirus, said Ministry of Health and Population on Wednesday.

Of the total 185 Nepalis, who had applied for evacuation, only 175 were airlifted from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, to Kathmandu on Feb 16. Four had decided to stay in China while six were unable to board the Nepal Airlines Corporation Airbus due to medical reasons.

The 35 male and 40 female evacuees were sent to quarantine facilities set up in Kharipati of Bhaktapur and their swab samples were collected for tests.

The Health Ministry said they were tested negative.

They will be tested again on the 14th day of the compulsory quarantine, added the ministry.