Kathmandu, Aug. 12 -- It was 11am on Monday morning in a quiet residential side street in Patan. Suddenly there was commotion as an ambulance and a police van arrived at the cul de sac, sirens blaring.

Families were at their windows looking down, curious neighbours crowded the street. Health official in a full protective equipment held a man, escorted him to the ambulance, and quickly drove off.

The man was the friendly neighbourhood barber. He had returned to Kathmandu from Saptari after the lockdown was eased last month, and had been in the Teku COVID-19 hospital after he tested positive. He had told neighbours that he had been discharged after recovering. But no one knew for sure, and rumours were flying.

"He was lurking around yest...