KATHMANDU, Dec 25: In the wake of increasing cases of the new variant of Covid-19 in neighbouring countries, the government has urged the general public to administer booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine for those who are yet to get the extra dose.

Issuing a public notice on Saturday, the Ministry of Health and Population urged the people to contact their nearest health facilities to get vaccinated.

The ministry also urged one and all to wear face mask, maintain physical distance, use sanitizers and adopt other precautionary measures to avoid the possibility of contracting the virus.

The notice comes at a time when people around the world including Nepal are observing Christmas and New Year.

As the new variant of the COVID-19 has been confirmed and spreading in some countries including China, the MoHP said it is working to increase surveillance and coordinate with other countries to contain the further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 cases in China have been rapidly increasing in various major cities in recent weeks as the virus sweeps through China largely unchecked. British news agency Reuters reported on Thursday that a Shanghai hospital has told its staff to prepare for a "tragic battle" with COVID-19 as it expects half of the city's 25 million people will get infected by the end of next week.

The Indian government also recently held a high-level review meeting amid the latest COVID-19 alert in India on Thursday. Delhi government has already announced to close schools between January 1 and January 15 due to winter and Covid scare, according to Indian media reports.

Although the new variant has not yet been detected in Nepal, the ministry warned that the virus spreads rapidly and has urged one and all to take necessary precautions. 

 
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