COVID-19 patient dies in Gulmi; death toll reaches 3 in country

Kathmandu - A 41-year-old man suffering COVID-19 died while receiving treatment at Crimson Hospital here this morning. Originally from Madane Rural Municipality-6 of Gulmi, the man breathed his last at 7:10am, said Dr Uma Shankar Chaudhari, chief of Health Division at Ministry of Social Development in Province-5.

Chaudhary informed that the man was receiving treatment after suffering typhoid, jaundice and kidney disease. He was in ventilator support at ICU with for eight days. Earlier, the hospital had refuted the news that the man died as it was reported so in some media on Monday and Tuesday.

The hospital had showed concern over the false information. Chaudhary added that while the patient was still receiving treatment, some media spread misinformation on it. Meanwhile, the people in Madane informed that the victim had visited different places and attended marriage programme as well despite lockdown order.

Information officer at Madane Rural Municipality, Rishi Pokhrel, said the victim had attended a marriage ceremony at Malika Rural Municipality on April 16 and also visited Dhurkot Rural Municipality on May 2. On May 10, he visited a polyclinic at Purkot the other day as he witnessed fever and headache. He took rest for two days taking medicine from the polyclinic.

Two days later, his blood was tested which showed jaundice at Chhaya Polyclinic at Sandhikharaka of Arghakhanchi, said polyclinic proprietor, Bishnu Bhushal. As he did not see relief he was taken to Crimson Hospital at Tilottama in Rupandehi. His swab was collected and sent to State lab on May 15 for coronavirus test.

The Ministry of Health and Population later confirmed coronavirus on him after he tested positive for it in PCR test. With this, the death toll of coronavirus reached three in Nepal. Minister Baral expresses sorrow. 

Meanwhile, Minister for Social Development in State-5, Sudarshan Baral, expressed sorrow over the death of COVID-19 infected person from Madane of Gulmi during the treatment. In a condolence message, Minister Baral said all attempts taken to save the life of coronavirus infected went in vain, paying tribute to the deceased one. Saying the death of a school principal has caused an irreparable loss in education sector, the Minister extended condolences to the bereaved family members.