Jul 3, Kathmandu: As the number of people infected with Coronavirus (Covid-19) has been increasing in Nepal recently, the sub-species BA-5 of the Omicron variant has been confirmed. A genetic test at Dhulikhel Hospital confirmed the sub-species BA Five of the Omicron variant, the hospital said.

The Ministry of Health and Population and the National Laboratory at Teku are not aware of the BA Five subtype of Omicron confirmed during genetic testing at Dhulikhel Hospital. A high-ranking official of the Ministry of Health said, "I came to Dhulikhel Hospital three days ago to hear that the sub-species BA Five of Omicron variant has been confirmed." However, the source of the report has not been confirmed.

Meanwhile, Dr. Runa Jha, director of the National Public Health Laboratory, said that the genetic testing of the infected will continue. "A new subspecies of Omicron has not yet been confirmed," she said. Sameer Kumar Adhikari said that so far no BA Five subspecies of Omicron have been confirmed while sequencing the genes of the infected.