By Shiva Kumar Joshi /Nabaraj Kattel, Hetauda, Biratnagar, Aug. 19: Three COVID-19 related deaths have been confirmed in Hetauda and Dharan today.

Two persons of Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City, who died in the last 24 hours, were found to have been infected with the novel coronavirus.

A 61-year-old male of Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City-1, Chaukitole and a 62-year-old female of ward no. 19 were detected with COVID-19 in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test report which came out after their death.

"The 61-year-old male died on Tuesday night. He was suffering from kidney diseases and high blood pressure. His swab sample was collected before his death," said Bhola Chaulagain, public health inspector in isolation ward set up at Hetauda-4.  

Likewise, a 62-year-old female of Hetauda-19, Saanantar died while receiving treatment at Chitwan Medical College. She was suffering from liver cancer for the last three months.
According to Nabaraj Subedi, ward chair of Hetauda-19, she was found to have been infected with the virus after her death, although her swab sample was collected before.

Her last rites were performed according to the Hindu culture on Tuesday afternoon. "As her PCR test report that came out on Wednesday morning, where she tested COVID-19 positive, the fear of the spread of the virus has loomed in the society," said ward chair Subedi.

Meanwhile, the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan has recorded yet another COVID-19 death.

"A 71-year-old female of Dharan-15, Sunsari succumbed to the virus infection today at 11:15 am. She was admitted to BPKIHS on August 8 and her swab sample was collected on August 7," informed Dr. Nidesh Sapkota, spokesperson of BPKIHS.

She was also suffering from asthma, chronic heart disease and was having difficulties in respiration.

On Tuesday, a 67-year old female of Budhiganga Municipality-2 of Morang had succumbed to the virus infection.

With this, the COVID-19 death toll of State 1 has reached 12.