A Nepali youth who returned from South Korea has stayed in self-quarantine in Beni, the district headquarters of Myagdi.

Keeping in view the possible infection of Covid-19, the man has kept himself in isolation for the past 10 days. The migrant worker landed in Kathmandu on March 1 after the Korean company he was working at closed following the global outbreak of novel coronavirus. He had gone to South Korea for employment 20 months ago.

The foreign job returnee has been staying in a separate room of his family’s rented apartment and away from the direct contact of his family members.

“It is quite monotonous staying alone in the room. I try to check if I have fever by touching the forehead with palm. I neither have fever nor any symptoms of common cold. I am just conscious as I returned from one of the Covid-19 affected countries,” the man told the Post over telephone. According to him, he was allowed to go home in Myagdi following a general health check-up at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

On Wednesday, the man in self-quarantine telephoned Dr Nabaraj Bastakoti of the district hospital and inquired about laboratory test for the novel coronavirus. Acting on his request, Bastakoti called in some health experts from Pokhara as the Myagdi District Hospital does not have the kit and required manpower for the Covid-19 test.

The team from Pokhara collected his throat and nasal swabs on Thursday and sent them to Kathmandu for examination. “We called the health team from Pokhara after he requested a health check-up,” said Bastakoti.

The man reportedly shows no symptoms of the Covid-19. “The lab report will come within three-four days. It is good to stay in self-quarantine as a conscious and responsible citizen,” he added.