This community-based cross-sectional study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) toward COVID-19 among the general public in Nepal and to identify associated factors. Between May and June of 2020, 645 patients were recruited from 26 hospitals across Nepal. Telephone interviews were conducted using a questionnaire with a maximum score of 27. The COVID-19 knowledge mean score was 11.6 (SD 4.5) and differed significantly among participants by province, place of residence, ecological area, age, gender and caste or ethnicity. The overall mean score was 2.7 (SD 1.8) for attitudes and 9.9 (SD 1.93) for practice, both of which also differed across groups. There was a positive correlation between knowledge-practice (r=0.19, p<0.01) and attitude-practice (r=0.08, p<0.05); however, they were weak. There was a stronger relationship between knowledge and education (r=0.34, p<0.01) and knowledge was positively correlated with participants province. Attitude was positively correlated with participants' education level, while practice was positively correlated with gender and education. All other factors measured showed a negative correlation with KAP. These findings suggest the general public in Nepal has been following precautionary practices to reduce spread of SARS-CoV-2, despite relatively low levels of knowledge about the virus; however, the authors suggest a need for targeted community awareness interventions to enable improvements in attitudes and practices toward COVID-19 amongst the most vulnerable populations.