By Chitra Mijar, Sindhupalchowk, May 19: As many as 54 people, who had come in contact with Nepal's first COVID-19 deceased, a 29-year old postpartum woman, have tested negative for the virus in PCR test.

By tracing those who had come in direct contact with the deceased, swab samples of 197 people were collected on Sunday and Monday.

Out of 197 samples, 54 tested negative for COVID-19, informed Durgadutta Chapagain, Public Health Officer at Sindhupalchowk Public Health Office.

The report of remaining samples will be obtained within two days, informed Chapagain.

The health workers had collected swab samples from Chalisetole, Ratmata, Thotneri, Kalapanigaun, Tarbisauna and so forth of Barhabise Municipality-9.

The swab samples were tested at National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Kathmandu.

After the first death from COVID-19 in Nepal was recorded in Barhabise Municipality of Sindhupalchowk, the District Security Committee had sealed off Barhabise-9 and Balefi Rural Municipality-7 and 8.

Swab test of 24 in Tokha-9 result negative   

Meanwhile, according to RSS, the nasal and swabs collected from 24 suspected persons in Tokha in Kathmandu have tested negative for COVID-19.

The test was conducted on the suspected ones as the deceased, originally from Sindhupalchowk, was residing at Tokha-9, Gongabu prior to her delivery.  

Tokha Municipality Mayor Prakash Adhikari confirmed that swabs of all 24 persons put to test for COVID-19 through PCR method tested negative. They were from Buddhamarga in Tokha Municipality-9.    

With this, the mobility restriction has been slightly relaxed in and around Gongabu area which was sealed off since Saturday night.    

The Tokha Municipality has urged all for patience and precaution as well as compliance with the lockdown.