KATHMANDU: Ministry of Health and Population has appealed one and all not to consider traveling abroad until absolutely necessary.

The appeal was made in the wake of the identification and spread of the ‘Omicron’ variant of COVID-19 lately.

Urging all Nepalis to observe precaution against COVID-19, the Ministry said that the ‘Omicron’ variant has not been detected in Nepal yet.

The monitoring and testing of this new variant has been expanded, said Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari. Issuing a press statement here today, Dr Adhikari said that the new variant is very contagious and it would infect people of any age group.

The Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) was first detected in African countries some days ago and has been expanding rapidly across South Africa and Asia lately.

The WHO has declared the new variant as the ‘universal variant of concern’. The Ministry has also urged one and all to get vaccinated against Coronavirus infection since, the Ministry said, vaccination would provide protection against COVID-19.