KATHMANDU: Nepal has confirmed 116 new coronavirus positive cases in the past 24 hours.

Speaking at a regular press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr. Jageshwor Gautam said that Nepal’s COVID-19 tally has reached 17,177, including 6,113, with the new cases.

The new cases were detected in Dhankuta, Morang, Taplejung, Saptari, Dhanusa, Nuwakot, Kathmandu, Sindhupalchowk, Chitwan, Nawalparasi (East), Rautahat, Dhading, Palpa, Gorkha, Kaski, Tanahun, Myagdi, Salyan, Achcham, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Jumla, Mugu, Surkhet and Dadeldhura.

Of the total infected, seven are from Kathmandu valley.

He added that 5,090 samples were tested through the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method in 26 laboratories across the country.

Currently, 6,113 are undergoing treatment in isolation, while 24,527 have been quarantined, Spokesperson Dr. Gautam said.

Meanwhile, 697 COVID-19 patients were discharged from different hospitals and isolation centers.

So far, 11,025 people have been discharged across the country after recovery. The recovery rate now stands at 64.2 percent.

Four districts, Bhojpur, Manang, Mustang and Humla do not have active cases.

So far 39 persons have lost their lives due to the pandemic virus in Nepal.

“A 36-year-old COVID-19 patient from Parva Municipality-7, Rautahat died today at 2:30 PM in Narayani Hospital, Birgunj,” informed Dr Gautam.

He had returned to Nepal from Banglore, India on July 8. After sensing some difficulties in breathing, he was admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Narayani Hospital, Birgunj on July 13.

He tested positive for COVID-19 on July 15 in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test done at Hetauda Laboratory.