Nepal reports the first cases of coronavirus’ Omicron variant

Nepal has confirmed the first cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus in the country.

The Ministry of Health and Population’s assistant spokesperson Sameer Kumar Adhikari says the new variant that is terrorising the world of late has been detected in a foreigner living in Nepal and a Nepali in contact with the foreigner.

Both of them were already vaccinated against Covid-19, according to him.

The ministry, in a statement, says the 66-year-old foreigner had come to Nepal via air on November 19. He was allowed into the country as he had a negative PCR test report.

However, the person and another 71-year-old Nepali in the contact showed symptoms of Covid-19 and hence had come for another test on November 23. Further, their gene sequencing at the National Public Health Laboratory in Teku had shown the new Omicron variant yesterday.

The ministry says both the persons do not have any symptoms now and are under medical surveillance.

The government, tracing their contacts, had tested 66 other people, but all of them showed negative results, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the ministry says it has strengthened surveillance following the detection of the new Omicron variant.

Source: https://english.onlinekhabar.com/nepal-omicron-first-case.html