A two-year-old dies as virus death toll reaches eight, 1567 infected

KATHMANDU, May 31: The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed two more deaths on Sunday as Nepal’s COVID-19 death toll climbed to eight. The number of infections in the country has spiked in the past few days, spreading to 57 districts and infecting more than 1500 people.

A two-year-old girl from Bajura and a 35-year-old male from Dullu municipality-7 of Dailekh district died of the virus on Saturday.

“The girl died while receiving treatment at Bajura Hospital at 2:30 am today morning,” said ministry Spokesperson Bikas Devota, during a regular press briefing.

“She has returned from India with her parents eight days ago and had stayed in quarantine. After she suffered from fever, breathing complications and diarrhea, she was admitted to the hospital on May 27.

Her swab sample was sent to Seti Provincial Hospital. He tested positive,” he said.

“The male died in the quarantine facility set up at the Nepal Electricity Authority in his district, he added.

The Social Development Ministry of Karnali Province had stated he died some moments after he suddenly fainted at around 7:00 am in the morning. His throat swab samples were sent to Karnali Health Science Academy in Jumla, where he had tested positive. Devkota confirmed the death.

FOUR MONTHS OLD INFECTED

Devkota also confirmed 166 more infections including a four-month-old baby from Surkhet as the coronavirus cases in the country climbed to 1567 today.

Of them, 29 are from Rautahat, 25 are from Salyan, 21 are from Dhanusha, 18 each from Kalikot and Dailekh (including one death), 12 from Saptari, 10 from Sarlahi, eight from Banke, five each from Parsa and Kapilvastu, four from Jhapa, three from Kailali, two each from Syangja and Bajura and one each from Tanahu, Bajura (including one death), Surkhet and Morang. 162 are males and 4 are females.

Tanahu of Gandaki Province, Salyan and Kalikot of Karnali Province and Bajura of Sudurpaschim became the latest districts to report infection today as the virus has now spread across 57 districts in the country.

Province 2 is the worst-hit state with 624 confirmed cases and one death, followed by Province 5 with 560 cases and three deaths. Province 1 has 165 cases, Karnali has 123 cases, Bagmati has 45 cases and two deaths, Gandaki has 23 cases and Sudurpaschim has 27 cases and two deaths (reported today).