KATHMANDU, May 21 -- The Ministry of Health and Populations confirmed 17 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday morning.

According to a press statement issued by the ministry, all new cases are from Province 1. With this, Province 1 alone has reported 76 cases so far.

A total of 15 males (two each aged 18, 19, 23 and 26 years and remaining others aged 22, 25, 28, 30, 32, 37 and 46 years) of Kachankawal Rural Municipality in Jhapa district, a 34-year-old male from Dhankuta district and another 51-year-old woman from Dharan Submetropolitan City in Sunsari district have been tested positive for COVID-19, according to the ministry.

Their tests were conducted at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan. Health Ministry Spokesperson Dr S...