Nepal reports first COVID-19 death, a fresh mother
17 May, 2020
Nepal reported its first coronavirus death late Saturday (May 16) --a 29-year-old woman who recently gave birth - as the total number of men and women infected in the united states reached 281.
The victim - who was from Sindhupalchowk district, some 90km from the capital Kathmandu - was on her behalf way to a hospital for treatment when she died.
"It has been tested that's this the first case of death due to COVID-19 in Nepal," the deputy spokesman for medical ministry, Samir Kumar Adhikari, said in a statement.
The girl gave birth at a hospital in Kathmandu on, may 6 and returned to her home district the next day.
She was treated at an area hospital after experiencing fever and respiratory problems. When her condition worsened, she was described another hospital.
Her newborn and other family members will be tested to see if indeed they have contracted the virus, local media reported.
Nepal, that includes a population of 28 million, has conducted fewer than 100,000 tests up to now. Experts say the lack of mass testing may have prevented identification of other fatalities.
"I don't think this can be the first death. There have been cases of deaths where comparable symptoms were seen, however the cause was unclear," said epidemiologist Lhamo Sherpa.
"There has to be more tests, contact tracing ... and more transparency."
In January, Nepal was the first south Asian country to report a case of coronavirus. The united states has been under lockdown since Mar 24 after another case was confirmed.
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