KATHMANDU, June 21: Seven of the women staying at the Nepal Electricity Authority quarantine in Kharipati of Changunarayan municipality-7 have been confirmed positive to Corona Virus.
The Ministry of Health and Population had confirmed the news during the Saturday press meet. However, the new cases reported in Bhaktapur are not among the local residents but those staying at the quarantine, according to SP at the Metropolitan Police Range, Bhaktapur Sabin Pradhan.

Those confirmed positive are a 42-year-old and 41-year-old from Morang, 23-year-old from Kaski, 29-year-old from Nawalparasi, 28-year-old from Jhapa, 28-year-old from Bara, 28-year-old from Surkhet. Upon landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, 109 women returnees from Kuwait were brought to the Kharipati quarantine instead of being taken to the holding centres after they were found with high body temperature.

Swab samples of all those staying in the quarantine were collected and sent for testing, after a 22-year-old woman from Nawalpur Gaidakot was confirmed positive last Thursday.
Meanwhile, the family members of a police person who had tested positive to Corona Virus have tested negative. The police personnel from Changunarayan municipality-5, Chaling had tested positive on Thursday.

Twenty-one of the 30 of his colleagues at the communications unit at the Metropolitan Police Range, Bhaktapur have also tested negative. The report of nine more police persons is yet to be received.(RSS)

KATHMANDU, June 19: The government is repatriating the Nepali citizens stranded in London on June 24 and June 26.

According to the Information Collection Support Committee formed at the initiatives of Nepali Embassy in London, flights have been confirmed to rescue the stranded Nepalis.

Spokesperson at the Embassy, Sharad Raj Aran, shared that the Embassy two weeks ago had sent the details of 420 Nepalis willing to return back to Nepal. The Jazeera Airways would operate flights at 2:45 pm on both days from Gatwick Airport.

The Embassy has sent email to those who will be brought to Nepal in the first phase to remain ready as the first flight has only the capacity to board 158 passengers.  Those Nepalis willing to return back to Nepal have to keep passport, negative report of coronavirus test certified by health workers with them.

The fare of the chartered flight has been determined at 920 Pounds along with all taxes.

Likewise, a total of 236 Nepalis, whose visa term is expiring are also returning from Korea on Saturday.

The Korea Air’s chartered flight KC 9695 is scheduled to leave for Nepal tomorrow.

The Nepali Embassy in Seoul facilitated to make sure the flight for those Nepalis to return home.

Among them, 15 are facing police detention on the charge of illegal stay, 36 are sick and pregnant women. Some are those who have rendered jobless due to COVID-19 crisis, according to Non-resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Korea’s general secretary Bimal Subedi.

Each passenger has been charged of around Rs 85,000 for the ticket.

KATHMANDU, June 19: Nepal’s novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases climbed to 8,274 after the Ministry of Health and Population confirmed 426 more infections on Friday.

Of today’s infected confirmed in various laboratories across the country, 92 cases are from Gulmi, 68 are from Baitadi, 49 from Kailali, 32 are from Baglung, 21 are from Sindhupalchowk, 20 are from Kanchanpur, 19 are from Tanahu, 15 are from Doti, 11 each from Sarlahi and Gorkha, nine are from Dadeldhura, eight each from Kaski, Makwanpur, Bajura and Aacham, six from Arghakhanchi, five from Parbat, four each from Saptari, Nawalparasi East and Kapilvastu, three each from Morang, Bajhang, Kathmandu and Syangja, two each from Udayapur and Rupandehi, and one each from Jhapa, Dhading, Myagdi, Sindhuli, Chitwan and Nawalparasi West, said Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr. Jageshwar Gautam.

Of them, 338 are males and 88 are females.

Of the total infected, 7,567 are males and 707 are females.

The virus has spread to 74 districts in the country. Mustang, Okhaldhunga and Rusawa has not reported any case yet.

Likewise, 216 patients were discharged after recovery in the last 24 hours, according to Gautam.

Nepal has reported 22 deaths from the virus so far.

KATHMANDU, June 18: The death toll from COVID-19 has reached 22 in Nepal after two more deaths were confirmed on Thursday.

Both the deceased patients are from Kailali district, according to the Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr. Jageshwar Gautam.

A 46-year-old male from Gowadari municipality-4 and a 43-year-old female from Lamkichula-2 have died of the virus.

The male was taken to Nawajeev Hospital on June 13 after his health deteriorated. After he tested positive for the virus, he was shifted to Seti Provincial Hospital. He died there on June 17, shared Gautam.

The female was admitted to Nepalgunj Medical College in Kohalpur after she suffered from subdural hematoma. Her swab sample was collected for COVID-19 test on June 16 and sent to Bheri Hospital Laboratory before surgery. She died next day before her result came. She tested positive on June 17,” he informed.

The total cases in Nepal has reached 7848 after the ministry confirmed 671 more infections in the last 24 hours. This is the record high number of infections reported in Nepal.

The virus has spread to 74 districts.

KATHMANDU, June 17: The death toll from novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has reached 20 in Nepal after a woman, who died on Monday, tested positive for the virus.

“A 46-year-old female from Baijanath rural municipality ward no. 6 has died of coronavirus,” confirmed Spokesperson at the Health and Population Ministry Dr Jageshwar Gautam.

“She was admitted to Kohalpur-based Nepalgunj Medical College on June 12 with kidney problems. Her swab sample was collected and sent to Bheri Hospital for COVID-19 test on June 15, but died on the same day at 6:30 pm before her results came. She was tested positive on June 16,” added Gautam.

Gautam also confirmed 586 new infections (546 males and 40 females) in the last 24-hours, taking Nepal’s total coronavirus cases to 7177. Of the total infected, 6638 are males and 539 are females.

Of today’s infected, 200 cases are from Mahottari, 127 are from Rautahat, 38 are from Pyuthan, 31 are from Baridya, 28 are from Dhanusha, 26 are from Gulmi, 25 are from Salyan, 17 are from Nawalparasi East, 14 are from Kalikot, 12 are from Arghakhanchi, 10 are from Kapilvastu, nine are from Morang, eight are from Dang, seven each from Bara, Rupandehi and Kanchanpur, six are from Sarlahi, four are from Udayapur, three are from Parbat, two each from Jhapa, Surkhet and Dailekh and one each from Siraha, Kailali and Banke (including one death).

Likewise, nine patients were discharged after recovery, according to Gautam. The total number of patients to have recovered has now reached 1167. Of them, 1055 are males and 112 are females.

KATHMANDU, June 17: Youths took to the streets of the capital on Wednesday as well protesting the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, government’s lackluster response to COVID-19 pandemic, corruption and the Office of President’s spending Rs 10 million in carpets as part of its renovation works during the crisis.

For the past few days, the youths have buzzed the streets in major cities across the country defying the lockdown orders and restrictions in mass gatherings against the government’s activities.

The protest flared after Prime Minister K P Sharma refused to furnish the details of the billions of rupees the government claimed to have spent in the COVID-19 response.

Following the pressure for financial transparency, Prime Minister’s Press Advisor Surya Thapa, in his Facebook page, shared a surface detail of Rs 8.39 billion the government spent in the fight against the pandemic, which according to Thapa, was revealed as per the decision of the COVID-19 Crisis Management Center Directorate Committee. But the information lacks authenticity as the it does not reveal who prepared the expenditure details.

The protesters are also unhappy with the government’s performance to the COVID-19 as the cases continues to surge in the country while quarantine facilities are sub-standard and has become the potential source of infection and cause of deaths. The safety women patients in the quarantine facilities have also been questioned after a woman was gang-raped in a facility set up at Shahid Smriti Secondary School in Lamki Chuha Municipality-1 of Kailali district on Saturday night.

Moreover, they have also demanded the government halt the unreliable RDT tests and expand the PRC testings.

At a time when the government is facing criticism for its incompetence in dealing the pandemic, delay in procurement of testing and protective kits, misuse of funds while the entire country goes through the hardships of crisis, the government’s decision to renovate the Office of President spending around Rs 18 million in carpet replacement and toilet renovation has put the youths out of their house and into the streets with the slogan ‘Enough is enough’.

Here are some photos of the youth demonstrations in Koteshwor captured by Reporters’ Club photo journalist Mukunda Kalikote.

NEPALGUNJ, June 17:  The death toll from novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Nepal has reached 20 after a woman who died on Monday evening tested positive for the virus.

The 46-year-old woman from Baijanath rural municipality-6 of Banke district died while receiving treatment at the Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital.

She was admitted to hospital on June 10 after she suffered from breathing complications, according to the hospital.

Her swab samples have tested positive for the virus.

This is the second death in Banke district. Earlier, on May 17, a 25-year-old male patient from Narainapur rural municipality had died in quarantine. His infection was also confirmed after his death.

KATHMANDU, June 16: The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed 380 more infections on Tuesday as Nepal total COVID-19 cases climbed to 6591.

Of the total infected, 6092 are males and 499 are females.

Meanwhile, a total of 117 infected have returned home following recovery from various isolation centers in the country. The discharged include 109 male and eight female, according to ministry Spokesperson Dr. Jageshwar Gautam.

According to the ministry sources, so far 143,738 PCR tests and 223,519 RDT tests have been undertaken across the country. As many as 133,009 people are being quarantined and 5,531 are staying in isolation facilities throughout the country.

KATHMANDU, June 15: The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed 451 more infection on Monday as Nepal’s coronavirus cases climbed to 6,211.

Of the total infected, 5,740 are males and 47 are females, said Dr Jageshwar Gautam during a regular press briefing today.

Gautam also said 68 more patients were discharged after recovery in the last 24 hours. The total number of patients to have recovered has reached 1041. Of them, 937 are males and 104 are females.

Nepal has reported 19 deaths from the virus.

KATHMANDU, June 14: The death toll from COVID-19 has reached 19 in Nepal after a patient died last night, the Ministry of Health and Population said.

A 36-year-old male from Dhurkot municipality-4 of Gulmi district has died while undergoing treatment in isolation in Resunga municipality on Saturday. He was diagnosed with coronavirus on May 25. He had returned from India on May 15. He was a cancer patient, said ministry Spokesperson Dr. Jageshwar Gautam.

The ministry also confirmed 435 new infections today as the total cases in Nepal climbed to 5,760.

Of the total cases today, 76 are from Rautahat, 54 are from Dang, 40 are from Surkhet, 29 from Dailekh, 26 from Rupandehi, 25 each from Morang and Dhading, 24 from Dadeldhura, 20 from Kanchanpur, 17 each from Palpa and Parsa, 12 from Kailali, 10 from Saptari, nine from Bara, eight from Gulmi, six from Sarlahi, five from Bajhang, three each from Doti, Bardiya and Banke, two each from Nawalparasi East, Pyuthan, Ramechhap and Nawalparasi West and one each from Sunsari, Jhapa, Rukum West, Dhanusha and Sindhuli, according to Gautam.

The virus has now spread across 73 districts.

According to Gautam, 61 patients were discharged after recovery in the last 24 hours. The total number of patients to have recovered has now reached 974.