While the neighboring countries including China and India have been grappling with the spread of coronavirus, Nepal seemed unperturbed with the deadly contagion.
However, the situation in the nation became dire after three Indian Tabhlghi Jamati members have tested positive for COVID-19 on April 12, 2020.
The three Indians, who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat Congregation from March 1-15, 2020 in India, were found hiding in a mosque located in Birgunj Metropolis-2.
Among the three Indians, one belongs to New Delhi while the other two are from Uttar Pradesh.
Their swab samples were sent to the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) for confirmation after the preliminary test by Vector-Borne Disease Research and Training Centre, Hetauda came positive for coronavirus.
On the same day, the NPHL confirmed that the three cases tested positive for COVID-19 infection.
According to the Nepali Government, around 26 Tablighi Jamaatis have been arrested from different locations of Birgunj.
However, Nepali police authorities claim that around 200 Jamaatis are hiding at different places of the Terai, including Sunsari, Rautahat, Saptari, Parsa, Bara, Kapilvastu, Rupendehi and Banke.
The Nepali Government is on high alert as the ‘Tablighi Jamat’ has become the ‘super spreader’ for coronavirus in India.
The Nepali Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) has started contact tracing of three COVID-19 patients in order to launch massive testing of people in their contact.
Moreover, the government has decided to seal all the mosques in Birgunj to impede the coronavirus spread in the country.
With the three new coronavirus cases, the number of COVID-19 infection cases in Nepal has reached 12.
So far, the coronavirus has spread to around 210 countries and territories around the world and has infected 1,862,650 people while claiming 114,921 lives.
Stay Tuned to Nepali Sansar for Latest Nepal News on COVID-19!