March 23: A Nepali national who returned home from France via Qatar last week has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health and Population confirmed the case amid an emergency press conference organized in the capital on Monday.

According to a spokesperson at the ministry, the person was in self-quarantine after returning home from France last Tuesday (March 17). The person is currently undergoing treatment at Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Teku. According to the government , the patient has been isolated and everyone who came into contact with the person have been quarantined.

Out of 600 samples tested for COVID-19, only one tested positive, the ministry said during the press conference chaired by Health Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal.

This is the second case of coronavirus reported in Nepal. Earlier, a Nepali student returning home from Wuhan of China had tested positive for the disease in January. But the government claims that the patient has fully recovered and returned home.

The ministry has urged one and all to adopt precautionary measures to avoid the deadly disease that has already  spread to 193 countries and claimed over 14000 lives.