By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr. 26: The PCR test of Birgunj's 23-year old female who died earlier today reported negative for the virus. The test was done at Hetauda-based laboratory, informed Dr. Bikash Devkota, Spokesperson, Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP).

The deceased had tested positive for the virus in three consecutive Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs).

"The patient was suffering from blood cancer and she was also suspected to have been infected by the virus," said Dr. Madan Upadhyaya, medical superintendent at Narayani Hospital. "She died while we were preparing to keep her in isolation."

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.