By Deepak Prasad Gautam, Birgunj, Apr. 26:  A 23-year old female, who had tested positive for COVID-19 three times in Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), died today in Birgunj.

Her throat swab has been sent to Viral Disease Research and Training Center, Hetauda, for PCR test.

The deceased, a resident of Birjgunj Municipality- 10, Ashok Batika, was receiving treatment after testing COVID-19 positive in three consecutive RDTs.  

Dr. Madan Upadhayaya, medical superintendent of Narayani Hosptital, said, "She was suffering from blood cancer, and after testing positive in RDT, we had collected the sample for PCR testing."

As she was suspected to have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, we had kept her in isolation, he added.

Upadhyaya informed that her test report would arrive by today evening.

The deceased was taken to Bharatpur Cancer Hospital on March 18, where she was diagnosed with cancer.

She then returned to Ashok Batika on March 22. As her health condition was deteriorating, she was admitted to Birgunj-based Advanced Hospital on April 25.

The hospital, highlighting the need to put her in ventilator, then referred her to National Medical College.

The College lacked ventilator facility, so she was again referred to Terai Hospital and Research Center, where she tested positive for the virus in RDT for two times.

As she was suspected to have been infected with COVID-19, she was transferred to Narayani Hospital, where she again tested positive in RDT.

As she had tested positive for the virus for three times in a row, we have sent her swab sample for PCR test in Hetauda, said Dr. Upadhyaya.

Lalit Basnet, Chief District Officer of Parsa, said that all of her family members had been kept in isolation.