Kathmandu, August 31
Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada did not attend the cabinet meeting held at the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Sunday evening although he was present at his ministry in the afternoon.
Whereas some ministers suspected if Khatiwada contracted Covid-19 and isolated himself at home, sources close to him say he has not contracted the diseases, but he skipped the meeting fearing the risk of infection.
Earlier, two ministers–Ishwar Pokharel and Ram Bahadur Thapa–had quarantined themselves after one of their contacts had been infected with the coronavirus. Khatiwada decided not to attend the meeting yesterday after he learned Pokharel and Thapa were joining, according to sources close to him.
Khatiwada is suffering from diabetes and hypertension as well as some heart problems. Hence, he considers himself being at high risk of infection.
