According to a health ministry official, Saudi Arabia has documented the Gulf’s first confirmed case of the Omicron strain of the coronavirus in a citizen returning from North Africa.
Because the new virus strain is rapidly spreading over the world, the WHO has issued an early warning of a very high worldwide danger. Despite warnings from the World Health Organization, countries around the world have reimposed travel restrictions in response to the strain, which was first reported in South Africa but was later determined to have been prevalent earlier in Europe.
“One incidence of the Omicron variety was found — it was a citizen from a North African nation,” a ministry official told the state news agency SPA.
“He and his connections have been placed in isolation, and the required health precautions have been taken.” Saudi Arabia halted flights from seven southern African countries last week, mirroring similar steps by other governments, but travel links with North Africa remain unchanged.
Saudi Arabia has reported 549,000 cases of Covid-19 since the outbreak began, with 8,836 deaths. In the kingdom, which has a population of almost 35 million people, more than 47 million doses of Covid vaccination have been delivered.
