KATHMANDU, May 16: Nepal reported the first ever death due to novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country on Saturday. 

Issuing a press statement in the evening, the Ministry of Health and Population confirmed that a 29-year-old woman from Sindhupalchowk district had died of this deadly virus on Thursday. 

The woman, who gave birth a week ago at the Kathmandu-based TU Teaching Hospital on May 6 was discharged the next day and she went back to her home in Sindhupalchowk. However, she developed respiration difficulties and high fever. She died while she was being taken to Dhulikhel Hospital, Kavre for treatment. 

“We verified the details and conducted an additional test which turned out to be positive for COVID-19,” Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari, joint spokesperson for the ministry, said. 

Meanwhile, the ministry also confirmed two other cases of this deadly disease. Two men (aged 20 and 65) have contracted the virus, according to the latest updates by the ministry.  Both of them are from Dhanusha district. 

With this, the total number of confirmed cases of COVID -19 in Nepal has climbed to 281 as of Saturday evening.

 
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