By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Aug. 17: Among the 12,247 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests conducted in the last 24 hours, 641 individuals were found to be infected with COVID-19 on Sunday. Of the total infected people, 218 are females and 423 are males.
According to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Kathmandu Valley recorded 172 new cases of COVID-19 with the highest single-day spike.
Of the 172 new cases of virus infection, 126 were detected in Kathmandu, 38 in Lalitpur, and eight were detected in Bhaktapur informed, Dr. Jageshwor Gautam, Spokesperson at the MoHP.
Meanwhile, 134 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment in various health facilities across the nation were discharged in the last 24 hours. With this, the recovery rate stands at 65 per cent.
Currently, there are 9,221 active cases of COVID-19 of which 8,724 are in isolation wards of various health facilities and 497 are in home isolation. According to the ministry, 15,243 persons, mostly those who returned from abroad, are in quarantine.
The ministry has also confirmed two more deaths due to COVID-19 on Sunday.
According to Dr. Gautam, two COVID-19 patients, a male from Parsa and a female from Morang, succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours.  
As per the latest update, 45 COVID-19 patients from State 2, 18 from Bagmati State, 13 from State 5, 10 from State 1, eight from Sudurpaschim State, six from Gandaki State and four from Karnali have died of COVID-19 till date.
With this, the national COVID-19 tally has reached 26,660 including 17,335 cases of recovery and 104 deaths.