KATHMANDU, Dec 6 — Nepal has detected its first two cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, the health ministry said today.

A 66-year-old foreigner, who had entered Nepal from a country with confirmed Omicron variant on November 19, and another 71-year-old person who was in close contact with him tested positive for Omicron on Sunday, the ministry said in a statement. It did not identify their nationalities.

“Both of them are in isolation and getting healthcare under the supervision of health workers,” the statement said.

Sixty-six other people who had contacts with them were traced and all tested negative, it added.

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Nepal recently banned travellers from eight African countries and Hong Kong over fears about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. — Reuters