Variant Virus from the UK Also Found in Nepal... UK Travelers Banned from Entry

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] Health authorities in Nepal, located in the Himalayas known as the "Roof of the World," have gone on high alert after the discovery of the new variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19) originating from the UK. The Nepalese government announced an indefinite ban on the entry of travelers coming from the UK.

According to local media such as the Kathmandu Post on the 18th, Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population stated in a press release that three travelers who arrived from the UK three weeks ago were confirmed to be infected with the variant virus. Jageshwar Gautam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, said, "Contact tracing for the three infected individuals has been completed," and added, "We will continue to take safety measures related to this." This is the first report of the UK-origin variant virus being found in Nepal.

Previously, the UK variant had already been detected in neighboring countries such as India and Pakistan, raising concerns about its spread in Nepal. With the discovery of the variant virus, the Nepalese government decided to indefinitely ban the entry of all travelers coming from the UK to prevent further spread. Nepal Immigration stated, "This measure also applies to those entering via the UK," but added, "However, Nepalese nationals with urgent matters who have received approval from the authorities are allowed to enter."

According to the international statistics site Worldometer, as of this day, Nepal's cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases have reached 267,644. The daily confirmed cases reported by Nepalese health authorities have recently fluctuated between 200 and 400.