By TRN Online, Kathmandu, May 16:  The Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has confirmed first COVID-19 death in Nepal.

A 29-year old female of Barhabise, Sindhupalchowk, who was suffering from high fever and respiratory difficulty died from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2 infection, confirmed the ministry by issuing a press statement.

The deceased was a postpartum woman who had been admitted for delivery at TU Teaching Hospital (TUTH) on May 5.

"Following the delivery of her child on May 6, she was discharged from the hospital on May 7," informed Dr Bikash Devkota, spokesperson of the Ministry in the daily press briefing earliler today.

Dr Devkota said that after suffering from high fever and respiratory problem, she was admitted to a local hospital at Sindhupalchowk.

As her health condition deteriorated, she died while she was being taken to Kavre-based Dhulikhel hospital, said Dr Devkota.  

As the deceased showed symptoms similar to that of COVID-19, her swab sample was brought to National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Teku, where she tested positive for the virus in PCR test.

Following the death of COVID-19 suspected patient, the District Command Post formed to prevent COVID-19 spread held an urgent meeting at District Administration Office, Dhulikhel.

Shrawan Kumar Timilsina, Chief District Officer of Kavre said that the vehicular movement had been halted at the moment in Kavre.

Two more COVID-19 cases confirmed

Meanwhile, the ministry has also confirmed two more COVID-19 positive cases. Two men aged 20 and 65 of Dhanusha tested positive for the virus in PCR test done at National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Kathmandu. With this, the national COVID-19 tally has reached 281.