A China CDC Weekly article has reported that three COVID-19 patients carrying B.1.617, a coronavirus variant first identified in October 2020 in India, flew from Nepal to SW China's Chongqing Municipality on April 22 and 23.

The three people, aged 20–30, were employees of a cellphone company based in Noida, India. They reportedly wore protective gear, N95 face masks, goggles and gloves throughout their trip back to China. However, they tested positive for COVID-19 after landing in Chongqing.