Gulmi, June 21: Three villages of Gulmidarbar Rural Municipality in the district have been sealed off following the finding of a COVID-19 infection in a newly mother.

A woman, 21, who gave birth some days ago, was found infected with the virus on Saturday.  She is from Ward No 7. Swabs of other people in the villages who had come in contact with the infected were collected and sent for a test, said Laxman Pandey, chief administrative officer of the Rural Municipality. The villages would remain sealed off until the reports arrive, he added. Following the finding of an infection case, contract tracing has started today, it has been said.

Residents of the villages--Rotepani, Ukhap and Ripaha--have been asked to remain indoors unless there are emergency works, said the rural municipality chair Top Bahadur Basnet.

The infected woman was initially admitted to Lumbini Medical College a week ago after her RDT reports were positive. Her PCR reports were also positive, said the hospital. Her swabs were tested at a laboratory in Bhairahawa.

 Husband of the infected woman is said to have returned home from India on May 24. After staying at a quarantine facility for 14 days and his RDT reports were negative, he went home on June 9. Eleven days after he reached home, the woman was tested positive for the infection, said health coordinator for the rural municipality, Narayan Aryal.