KATHMANDU: Nepal has recorded a first locally transmitted case of coronavirus.

A 34-year-old woman in Kailali, the relative of a 34-year-old man recently diagnosed with the novel virus in the same district tested positive.

Earlier, Nepal had reported all the imported cases of coronavirus.

According to Health Expert to the Ministry of Health and Population Dr. Khem Karki, the case shows that COVID-19 infection in Nepal has entered its second stage of transmission.

“Sister-in-law of an infected man has tested positive. With the case, Nepal has entered the second phase of transmission,” Karki said.

Here is a guide to the four stages of the novel coronavirus:

Stage 1: When cases are only imported from affected countries and therefore only those who have traveled abroad test positive. At this stage, there is no spread of the disease locally.

Stage 2: When there is a local transmission from infected persons. This will usually be relatives or acquaintances of those who traveled abroad who test positive after close contact with the infected person.

At this stage, fewer people are affected, the source of the virus is known and is, therefore, easier to perform contact tracing and contain the spread via self-quarantining.

Stage 3: This is the stage of community transmission. In this stage, those who have not been exposed to an infected person or anyone who has a travel history to affected countries, still test positive. In other words, people are unable to identify where they might have picked up the virus.

Stage 4: This is the worst stage of the infection where it takes on the form of an epidemic. Massive numbers are infected and it is very difficult to control and contain the spread.