14 test positive on a single day as Nepal’s COVID-19 cases rise to 30

KATHMANDU, April 17: Ministry of Health and Population confirmed 14 new cases on Friday as Nepal’s total cases surged to 30.

Co-Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Samir Adhikari said 12 persons were tested positive for coronavirus from Udayapur and two from Chitwan.

This is the first time such large number of infection have been reported in a single day since first the first case on Jan 23.

Dr Adhikari further said all of those from Udayapur were males and staying at Nuri mosque. Similarly, those from Chitwan are from same family- mother and son. With the additional 14 positive cases, contract tracing has been intensified.

The twelve COVID-19 males are aged between 20 to 40. Similarly, Bharatpur Hospital’s Chairman Dr Bhojraj Adhikari shared that 63-year-old woman and her 27-year-old son from Brahmanagar of Rapti municipality-8 in Chitwan district had contracted the infection. Both of them had arrived Nepal from the UK in mid-March via Qatar Airways.  Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) was conducted on both the mother and son duo on Wednesday. They are currently in isolation ward of the Bharatpur Hospital. Nasal and throat swabs of both were sent to Kathmandu after conducting COVID-19 test on them twice on Thursday.

A high alertness has been maintained in the district after these two cases of COVID-19 were reported in the district. Chief District Officer of Chitwan Narayan Prasad Bhattarai shared that all those having come in contact of the mother and son since their arrival to the district would be tracked and kept in isolation.