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New Covid strain: 4 cases in Oman suspected

Dubai - The four individuals had come from the UK.

Published: Tue 22 Dec 2020, 2:50 PM

Updated: Tue 22 Dec 2020, 4:31 PM

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(File photo)

(File photo)

Oman is investigating whether a new, highly infectious Covid-19 strain has been detected in the country, its health minister has said.

Four individuals, who had come from the United Kingdom, are suspected to have the new variant of the coronavirus that has been spreading across Europe.

Countries across the globe shut their borders to Britain because of coronavirus strain that is believed to be 70 per cent more transmissible.

Oman's Minister of Health Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Saeedi said studies are on to genetically map the virus. Results would be announced soon, he said.

"There is no evidence that the new Covid-19 strain is more dangerous than the original one," he said, according to Oman News Agency.

The Covid-19 vaccine that is being administered in the country would protect residents from the new strain as well, he said.

Dr. Ahmed pointed out that the Sultanate will receive a consignment of 15,600 doses of Pfizer on Thursday this week, while a second consignment of 28,000 doses is scheduled to arrive by early January 2021.

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