Saudi Arabia detects first case of new variant Omicron

Dubai: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday said it has detected the first case of the new coronavirus variant Omicron. The news came on the first day of relaxation of travel restrictions on several countries including India.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health said a citizen who arrived from a North African country was found infected with the new variant of COVID-19, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The infected citizen and his contacts were isolated, and the approved health procedures were completed. An epidemiological investigation was conducted, the press agency said.

The Ministry of Health “stressed the need for all members of society to complete



receiving [COVID-19] vaccine doses and to adhere to all precautionary measures, preventive measures and approved protocols, as well as the importance of those arriving in the Kingdom to adhere to the instructions related to quarantine and laboratory examination for their safety and the safety of all,” SPA reported.

The Kingdom also suspended entry of non-Saudis who come directly or indirectly from the at-risk countries, except for those who have spent a period of not less than 14 days in another country whose health procedures comply with Saudi Arabia’s rules regarding entry into the country in accordance with the approved health procedures, SPA said.