According to the Ministry of Health and Population, two individuals - a Nepali and a foreigner - have been found to have contracted the new variant of the coronavirus, reports The Himalayan Times.

The Nepali national that has been detected with the variant is a 71-year-old while the foreigner is 66. The latter had entered Nepal via air, from Tribhuvan International Airport, the newspaper reported.

It has been learnt that the foreign visitor had produced a recent negative PCR report upon arrival, and was fully vaccinated.

The infected Nepali national has come into contact with the foreigner.

They tested themselves after showing symptoms of the disease.

The results came positive.