Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City Chiri Babu Maharjan has tested positive for the coronavirus.

Maharjan had gone to Patan Hospital for a test on Friday after he had come in contact with infected people while distributing them dignity tests the day before to boost their morale. He had a fever and went to get tested.

The 62-year-old mayor is staying in isolation at his own residence at Bakhundole taking all necessary precautions, according to a press statement of Lalitpur Metropolitan City.

“Despite being infected with the virus, my willpower is strong,” the mayor was quoted as saying in the statement. “My health condition is normal. I will soon defeat the virus and return back to serve the general public and take part in development activities of the metropolitan city.”

The mayor has asked those who might have come in his contact to go for the PCR test.

After Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayor Bidhya Sundar Shakya had tested positive last month Maharjan had said that he would also get tested since he had met him at a meeting at the Home Ministry. Shakya has recovered since.

Shakya’s whereabouts had been unknown after he tested positive but was later found to be staying at a five-star hotel.