COVID-19 Targeted Media Surveillance, Nepal (November 30, 2021) – Nepal

EMERGING THEME (S):

• Nepal reported 243 new cases of COVID-19, 1 death on November 30
• Nepal to stop issuing visa on arrival to people arriving from African countries with detection of Omicron variant of COVID-19; Tribhuvan International Airport office and border districts of India are headed on the same lines, while antigen test positive samples should be sent to Nepal Public Health Laboratory for gene sequencing
• The doctor who sounded the alarm about the Omicron variant of COVID-19 said he had only shown mild symptoms; Although the variant has raised questions about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, Dr Sher Bahadur Pun said the effectiveness can only be questioned if the Omicron variant results in critical situations in countries that have administered a full dose of vaccines
• The World Health Organization is conducting studies, investigating the degree of infection of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, an official statement will be made after that, according to Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO-Nepal representative ; the United Nations body called on member countries to make the necessary preparations to control the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 as it poses a high risk globally
• Nepal does not seem quite ready for the challenge posed by the Omicron variant due to the struggle between political leaders and bureaucracy
• Nepalese caregivers traveling to Israel must receive third (booster) dose of COVID-19 vaccine