Nepal confirms presence of Omicron variant in two

Kathmandu, Dec. 6: Nepal on Monday confirmed the presence of Omicron variant of the Coronavirus in two people, including a foreigner, in the country. Two individuals — a 71year-old Nepali and a 66year-old foreigner — have been found to have contracted the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus,

Health ministry deputy spokesperson Samir Adhikari

said, without revealing their identities. The foreign national had arrived in Kathmandu from South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first detected, he said. The Nepali, who came in close contact with the person, started experiencing similar symptoms on November 23, and subsequently tested positive for Covid19, the spokesperson said.

The presence of Omicron was confirmed during gene sequencing at the National Public Health Laboratory in Teku. The foreigner had entered Nepal on November 19, MyRepublica news website reported. The foreign visitor had produced a recent negative PCR report upon arrival, and was fully vaccinated.. —

, the Himalayan Times