KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 1

The Ministry of Health and Population has urged people not to travel abroad unless necessary. Issuing a press release today, the ministry appealed to people to take precautions for prevention of the spread of the COVID pandemic in the wake of spread of a new coronavirus variant, Omicron.

The Omicron variant was detected in South Africa a few days ago and has been spreading in African, Asian, and European countries.

According to the health ministry, the Omicron variant has not yet been detected in Nepal.

However, monitoring and testing the new variant has been expanded.

The press release issued by the ministry states that the new variant is highly contagious and can affect people of any age.

It has urged people to take necessary precautions to help prevent the spread of the infection.

The World Health Organisation has designated the new variant of coronavirus as a variant of universal concern.

The ministry has also urged people to get vaccinated against coronavirus infection.

A version of this article appears in the print on December 2, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.