Saudi Arabia announced on Wednesday the registration of a case of the "Omicron" variant in the kingdom involving a citizen returning from one of the North African countries. A responsible source in the Ministry of Health stated, "In reference to previous announcements regarding the emergence of a new variant of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in several countries and the reported transfer of infected individuals to other countries, a case of the Omicron variant of the virus has been detected in the kingdom, involving a citizen coming from one of the North African countries. Epidemiological investigation has been conducted, and the infected individual and their contacts have been isolated while completing the approved health procedures."
The source added: "This comes as part of the efforts of the Ministry and the Public Health Authority (Prevention) in investigating and managing the epidemiological situation regarding the COVID-19 virus and its variants continuously, including genetic sequencing testing and the efforts of national entities in combating the pandemic, including monitoring measures at entry points."
The source emphasized "the urgency for all community members to complete their vaccination doses and adhere to all precautionary measures, preventive measures, and approved protocols, as well as the importance for travelers to comply with instructions related to quarantine and laboratory testing for their safety and the safety of everyone," according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
