Birgunj, Jan 8: The scope of COVID-19 tests at all borders with India in Parsa district has been intensified following risks of Omicron variant.    

Nepal shares open borders with neighbouring India where the variant has been increasing. So security at all transits with India and scope of infection tests has been increased, said Chief District Officer Umesh Kumar Dhakal.    

A health desk has been set up at also local levels in the district in line with the decision of the district COVID-19 crisis management centre, he said.    

Similarly, in view of the variant risks, the respective health offices have been asked not to grant leave to their health workers. COVID-19 vaccines and safety equipment like facemask and sanitisers have been distributed.    

Meanwhile, 25 samples have been sent to Kathmandu for genomic sequencing to verify Omicron variants. Twenty-five people between the 35-60 age group, most of them are Indian nationals, were tested positive at the laboratory of Narayani Hospital in Birgunj. The samples have been sent to the National Public Health Laboratory, Teku, said the chief of the laboratory of the hospital, Dr Prabhakar Pandey.