Nine more COVID-19 case confirmed, Nepal’s total is now 516

KATHMANDU, May 22: Nine more infections have been confirmed in four districts, said the Ministry of Health and Population on Friday.

According to a press release issued by the ministry, a 54-year-old female from Hetauda-3 of Makwanpur; a 42-year-old female from Bhaktapur; a 35-year-old male from Balan Bihul rural municipality of Saptari; and six males aged 22, 27, 30, 34, 38, 45 from Simrangadh municipality of Bara have tested positive for the virus.

Earlier the ministry had confirmed 50 cases—15 in Sarlahi, 14 in Banke, nine in Kapilvastu, three each in Nawalparasi and Kailali, two in Chitwan, and one each in Nawalparasi (east), Dadeldhura, Morang and Baitadi.

The virus has now spread across 40 districts in Nepal infecting a total of 516 people, as of Friday.

According to a tally prepared by the ministry, Banke is the most affected district with 115 cases, followed by Parsa with 91 cases. Kapilvastu is the third most hit district with 69 cases. Jhapa has reported 35 cases, Udayapur has 33, Rupendahi has 29, Rautahat has 22 and Sarlahi has 20 cases.

Nepal has reported three deaths from the virus. A 41-year-old male patient from Madane rural municipality-6 of Gulmi district died at the Crimson Hospital on Thursday.

Nepal’s first fatality was a 29-year-old mother from Barabise municipality of Sindhupalchowk district, who died “on the way to Dhulikhel hospital” on May 16, ten days after giving birth to a baby at TU Teaching Hospital. The post-natal mother is the first casualty of the country and the only confirmed case in the district.

A day later, a 25-year-old male from Narainapur-5, Banke died while in quarantine.