COVID-19: Saudi Arabia denies rumours about cases of new mutant coronavirus
Minister of Health says mutated strain not worse than COVID-19
Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health on Monday denied rumours that cases of the new mutated strain of coronavirus have been reported in the Kingdom.
Dr. Mohammed Al Abdul Ali, the ministry’s spokesperson, denied the circulating rumours.
In a tweet, the spokesman said: “No cases of the new mutant coronavirus have so far been detected in the Kingdom. Studies continue to examine the genetic sequence of the virus.”
He urged everyone to contact the ministry for any inquiry, avoid circulating rumours and to obtain accurate information from official sources only.
Meanwhile, Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah, Minister of Health, said that the mutated strain of coronavirus is not worse than COVID-19, and the vaccine is effective against it.
“Studies are underway about the new variant of the virus and the Kingdom is closely following developments with regard to it. The Saudi leadership is keen to take all precautionary measures and prevent travel until the nature of the mutated strain of the virus is studied and its impact assessed,” he said.
“If a person is infected with the mutated coronavirus, then it is similar to the known coronavirus, and the mutated strain is not worse than COVID-19, and the vaccine is effective to deal with it. This is one of the promising things,” he said while noting that the matter, whether the new variant spreads faster or not, is under study and evaluation.”