Four cases of new mutated strain suspected in Oman

Oman’s health ministry suspects four cases of the new variant of the coronavirus strain coming from the UK, Oman News Agency has reported.

“The study of the virus’s genetic map is ongoing and [the results] will be announced,” Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi, the sultanate’s health minister said.

However, there are no indications to suggest that the new mutated strain is more dangerous than the Covid-19 virus, he added.

The health minister also confirmed that Oman will receive a consignment of 15,600 doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday, December 24, while a second consignment of 28,000 doses is scheduled to arrive by early January 2021.

معاليه يبين أن هناك دراسة جارية للتأكد من وجود ٤ حالات قادمة من #المملكة_المتحدة.. مشيرًا إلى أن دراسة الخارطة الجينية للفيروس مستمرة وسيتم الإعلان عنها

— وكالة الأنباء العمانية (@OmanNewsAgency) December 21, 2020

Oman announced that all its borders would be closed for a week starting Tuesday, December 22, 2020, to prevent the spread of the new strain of the coronavirus.

Read more: Covid-19 new strain: Oman to close all its borders for a week

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also took similar directives to shut its borders to contain the spread of the new variant.

Read: Covid-19 new strain: Kuwait joins Oman, Saudi in suspending flights, closing its borders