Kathmandu, Nov 29, : Nepal’s Home Ministry has decided that all nationals from Africa will be barred from entering the country, citing the risk posed by the Omicron coronavirus variant. “Considering the high risk from the new coronavirus variant, we instructed our immigration officers on Sunday not to permit citizens of African countries, other than those with official or diplomat passports, to enter the country with immediate effect,” Phanindramani pokharel, the Ministry’s spokesperson, told Xinhua.
“Initially, we instructed them verbally, but it will be formalised soon,” he stated, adding that the Ministry has not set a deadline for the new rule because the threat of the new variant is currently being evaluated globally.
Friday’s latest variant B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2, first discovered in South Africa, was declared “of concern” by the World Health Organization.It was its most serious form and officially given the name Omicron by the Greeks.
In September, Nepal opened the on-arrival visa services for foreign tourists who were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in an effort to revive the tourism sector.
Pokharel stated that Nepali tourists who have been vaccinated from Africa would not be allowed to enter the country for the moment.
He stated that “African nationals who have received Nepal’s visas from Nepali embassies overseas won’t be permitted to enter Nepal.”
At the moment, Nepal does not have direct air links to Africa and has not received many African tourists.
A spokesperson for Nepali Home Ministry stated that no decision was made regarding Nepali nationals or citizens from non-African countries arriving in Nepal via Africa.
Although Nepal was twice infected by the coronavirus in the past, it has seen daily declines in infections over recent months.
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