KATHMANDU, May 25 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government on Monday confirmed the fourth death from the COVID-19 in the country after a 70-year-old man who died on May 17 was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus.

"The presence of the novel coronavirus has been found in repeated tests on the man who hails from Kalaiya town of south-eastern Bara district," Bikas Devkota, spokesperson at the Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population said in a regular press briefing on Monday.

According to the ministry, the man, who was a tuberculosis patient, had been admitted to the intensive care unit of National Medical College at Birgunj city in southern Para district on May 15 after suffering from respiratory problems. His swab was collected on May 16 for COVID-19 test but he died the next day, according to Devkota.

After finding doubtful results at a nearby hospital in a swab test, his specimen was brought to Kathmandu-based National Public Health Laboratory for a further test. The test conducted in Kathmandu confirmed the presence of COVID-19, the ministry said.

According to Devkota, six other persons who had come into contact with the man have also been tested positive for COVID-19.

Along with the rapid rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in recent days, the Himalayan country has also started to see deaths from the disease. On Monday, Nepal confirmed 79 new COVID-19 cases, one of the largest single day spikes in the country.

With the additional cases, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Nepal has reached 682, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.

Altogether 111 people have been discharged from isolation center after recovery. Enditem

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