By Muna Hamal/Netra Shahi, Surkhet, June 3: Karnali State has reported 16 new COVID-19 cases today, which takes the State tally to 278.

Health Service Division under the Karnali State Social Development Ministry confirmed the number of new COVID-19 cases.

The newly infected come from Dailekh, Salyan and Kalikot districts as per the report of PCR test carried out in Surkhet Provincial Hospital/ Avian Disease Investigation Laboratory, Surkhet, and Karnali Academy of Health Science, Jumla.

The Division said three persons tested positive for the virus in the test conducted in Surkhet while in the test carried out in Jumla 13 cases were reported as positive.

Dr. Laxmi Narayan Tiwari, chief of the Division, said that two people hailing from Kumakh Rural Municipality and a person from Naumule Rural Municipality of Dailekh were reported to have infected with the novel coronavirus in the test conducted in Surkhet.

Similarly, in the test done in Jumla, three people including a 4-month infant of Mahabai RM, one each from Tilagufa municipality, Shubha Kalika RM, Palanta RM and Sanni Tribeni RM of Kalikot district and five people from Narayan Municipality of Dailekh district tested positive for the virus.

Except for three people infected with the virus, all the others are India returnees.

A local youth has tested positive for the virus in Surkhet while two security personnel have been found to have infected with the virus in Jumla. A person has died from COVID-19 in Dailekh till the date.