Nepal has confirmed cases of the Omicron sub-variant JN1, with the Ministry of Health and Population confirming seven cases related to the new sub-variant after a gene sequencing procedure. Out of a total of 16 samples that tested positive for COVID-19, seven were found to carry the new omicron sub-variant JN1. The ministry has not specified where and when the samples were taken, but the surge in COVID-19 cases, particularly those returning from India, has been a cause for concern in recent weeks. In response to the surge in the new sub-variant of COVID-19, health desks at checkpoints and health posts have been requested to continue necessary screening and surveillance, and medical institutions providing health services have been instructed to make necessary arrangements. Nepal previously saw a surge in COVID-19 infections during the first, second, and third waves, resulting in approximately 12,000 lives lost. Public health measures were then lifted following the decline in the infection rate of the Omicron variant in 2021. The World Health Organization has classified JN.1 as a separate 'variant of interest' due to its rapid spread around the globe. However, based on available data, the additional public health risk posed by JN.1 is currently evaluated as low. Several countries, including China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, have reported upticks in new coronavirus cases. The JN.1 strain, first detected in September in the United States, is a descendant of BA.2.86, a highly mutated variant of the Omicron strain of COVID-19.