UAE detects first case of Covid Omicron variant

The UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) detected on Wednesday the first case of the Omicron variant in the country, state news agency WAM reported.

The new variant was identified in an African woman coming from an African country via an Arab nation.

The detected case is fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as per the approved health protocols in place in the UAE.

MoHAP said the infected case has been examined and isolated along with her contacts, adding that the patient is exhibiting no symptoms of the disease and that all the necessary health measures have been taken.

UAE detects first case of COVID-19 Omicron variant#mohap_uae #covid_19 pic.twitter.com/CFQC6kX2Qn

— وزارة الصحة ووقاية المجتمع – MOHAP UAE (@mohapuae) December 1, 2021

The Ministry affirmed that the UAE Health Sector is fully prepared to address various Covid-19 variants by taking all proactive measures through inspection and conducting all necessary tests.

The Ministry also reiterated the importance of taking the Covid vaccination, including the booster shot, in order to ensure immunity and protection of Covid-19 related fatalities or severe symptoms, specially in light of the emergence of new variants.

The UAE is the second country to detect the new variant after Saudi Arabia.

Last month, the UAE suspended the entry for travellers and transit passengers from seven countries including South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique over concerns of Omicron.

Read: Covid-19: UAE to ban entry from seven countries over Omicron concerns

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA) said that the entry suspension is applicable travellers who were in these countries 14 days before coming to the UAE.