Kathmandu, Dec. 28: The Ministry of Health and Population has put 193 people who landed from the United Kingdom under observation. London is the origin of a new variant of COVID-19. Of them, the infection has been confirmed on five people.

Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Dr Basudev Pandey, said that treatment would be carried out by conducting PCR test if those who are under observation develop symptoms like fever and the common cold.

The Division has carried out PCR test of 12 people today. Earlier issuing a notice, the Ministry had requested all entering Nepal from London or via London route from December 16 to 22 to stay at hotel quarantine for 10 days compulsory.

Joint-Spokesperson at the Ministry, Dr Samir Kumar Adhikari, shared that a new variant of virus is the developed form of COVID-19.

He said, "Virus changes. The virus of COVID-19 has been changed and developed as a new variant of the virus. It has also the same symptoms as COVID-19. The capacity of transferring infection of a new variant of virus is high than Covid-19. Further study regarding a new variant of the virus is still to be done. "

The Joint-Spokesperson further said that it also hampers lungs like COVID-19, saying PCR test of those arrived from London, America and Africa has been conducted and they have been kept at quarantine.

Director Dr Pandey shared that preparation has been made to send the sample outside the country for the re-test as problem has surfaced to detect the new variant of virus from PCR test.