When the novel coronavirus, first detected in Wuhan last year, started to spread across the globe, governments sprung into action. The World Health Organisation on January 30 declared the outbreak a public health emergency.

The first case was reported in Nepal in January. It was during that time the ruling Nepal Comumunist Party was embroiled in a conflict over the selection of House Speaker.

Two days after the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Nepal, Agni Sapkota was elected Speaker after weeks-long tug of war between party chairs KP Sharma Oli, also the prime minister, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Immediately after, the party held its Central Committee meeting, which was overshadowed by disputes over the Millenium Challenge Corporation.

On March 4, Oli underwent his second kidney transplant. A day earlier, the government formed a high-level committee to fight COVID-19. Oli got hospitalised but he did not appoint an officiating prime minister, raising concerns over how the government would respond in case of a virus spread. Oli had a successful kidney transplant. The country escaped virus spread. When infections were soaring in various countries, the government imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 24. Nepal had reported just two COVID-19 cases.

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