Nepal’s coronavirus cases climb to 134

KAPILVASTU SEALED OFF FOR A WEEK

KATHMANDU, May 11: Ministry of Health and Population has confirmed 24 cases on a single day on Monday as Nepal’s COVID-19 cases climbed to 134.

The ministry confirmed 13 more infections today evening.

Six males (aged 15, 19, 23, 30, 32 and 38) from Yasodhara rural municipality-8 and Buddhabhumi municipality-5 of Kapilvastu district; another six males (aged 24, 26, 27, 30, 32 and 40) from Samarimai rural municipality-7 and Lumbini Sanskritik rural municipality-6 of Rupendahi district and an 11-year-old child from Rajapur-5 of Bardiya district have tested positive during a test conducted at the Kathmandu-based National Public Health Laboratory, Assistant Spokesperson of the ministry Dr. Sameer Kumar Adhikari stated in a press release.

“Their health condition is normal,” the release reads.

Earlier today, the ministry had confirmed 10 cases in Yasodhara rural municipality-5 and Buddhabhumi municipality-7 and one case in Dakneshwari municipality-3 of Saptari district.

Of the total 134 cases, 31 have recovered.

KAPILVASTU SEALED OFF

With 16 cases alone in a single day in two local units Kapilvastu, the district administration has upped the preventive measures sealing off the district for a week effective from today 5 pm till May 17 midnight to avoid further spread of the virus. The district has also completely suspended all sorts of business activities, industries and transportation services owing to the growing number of infections.

Kapilvastu is now the fourth most affected district with 21 confirmed cases. Udayapur is the most affected with 32 cases, followed by Parsa with 25 cases. and Banke with 24 cases. The virus has spread across 17 districts since it was first reported on January 23 on a Nepali male student from Wuhan of China, where the virus is believed to have originated in late December last year.

As of Monday, the virus has infected 4,218,856 and killed 284,792 people globally, with the United States worst-affected country which has confirmed 1,370,433 cases and 80,863 deaths.

In Nepal, Province 5 has become the hotspot with 53 cases. Province 1 has reported 35 cases, Province 2 has 32 cases, Bagmati has seven cases, Sudurpaschim has five cases and Gandaki has two cases. Karnali has not reported a single case yet.