Two succumb to COVID-19

Kathmandu - The death toll of coronavirus has reached two in the country. The death toll reached two after a 25-year-old youth from Banke died on Sunday, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. During a regular press meeting of the Ministry, Ministry Spokesperson Dr Bikas Devkota shared that two persons died from coronavirus in Nepal. The youth of Narainapur-5 from Banke was staying in quarantine after coming from India on May 14.

He suffered the health problems like fever and diarrhea since Saturday night and died at 6:40 am on Sunday. Spokesperson Devkota added the swab of youth was tested positive for coronavirus in PCR test. Further details of on it are awaited, according to him. Earlier to this, the Ministry had confirmed the death of a 29-year-old woman from Sindhupalchowk district. The woman was admitted at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital on May 5 and discharged on May 7 after normal delivery. She was admitted at a local hospital after she started developing health problems like fever and respiratory problem and died on the way to Dhulikhel Hospital from the local health facility, shared the Ministry.

COVID-19 infection in 28 districts, 291 infected till now Number of coronavirus infected people has increased lately. A total of 291 people have been tested positive from COVID-19 so far. Spokesperson Devkota further said that the COVID-19 infection has spread in 28 districts so far. A total of 36 persons have been infected with coronavirus in State-1; 121 in State-2; 17 in Bagmati State (including one death); three in Gandaki State; 109 in State-5; and five in Sudurpaschim State. According to the Ministry, of the infected people, 36 have so far returned home after treatment. More than 28,000 undergo PCR test A total of 28,160 people have undergone PCR tests and 67,769 RDT for coronavirus in the country so far, according to the Health Ministry.

PCR test of 1,469 people was carried out while 2,020 people underwent RDT for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. Similarly, 18,357 people are in quarantine and 346 in isolation so far. As per the data, 382 are in red zone, shared the Ministry. Directive for private hospitals to conduct RDT The Ministry of Health and Population has issued directive for private and community hospitals to conduct tests for the infection through RDT. With this, only registered private and community health institutions can have a license to conduct tests thorough RDT, said Dr Devkota.

For this, health institutions within the Kathmandu Valley can get a licence from the Department of Health Services and those outside from the Health Directorate of the respective state. They are required to submit reports of RDT tests to the National Laboratory on a regular basis, said the Ministry. The Ministry has launched a search for the identification of those who had come in contact with a woman who died in Sindhupalchok on Saturday. The tracing has been coordinated by the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division. Collection of swabs of those who had come in contact with the deceased has started from Sunday, he said.

A plan is afoot to conduct tests of more than 400 suspected people of Gongabu and Machhepokhari areas. Meanwhile, the Ministry has urged volunteers not to discourage willpower of doctors and health workers referring to some incidents wherein health workers were mistreated.