Cairo: The Saudi government said it had detected the JN. 1 variant of COVID-19, but said there was no cause for concern.
The kingdom’s Public Health Authority said it has monitored the local spread of the variant, JN.1, accounting for 36 per cent of the cases in the country.
“This has been accompanied by an increase in intensive care unit admissions,” the government agency, known as Weqya, said on its X account on Wednesday.
“Weqya confirms there is nothing to worry about,” it added.
The World Health Organization (WHO) this week classified the JN. 1 strain as a “variant of interest” and said existing evidence shows the threat to public health.
At least two experts told Reuters that while the strain can evade the immune formula and spread more easily than other variants circulating lately, it has not shown symptoms of more severe disease.
sea. Saudi Arabia has lifted pandemic-related restrictions and reopened other businesses and activities in the country.
Earlier this year, around 1. 8 million Muslims made the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia for the first time in three years after pandemic restrictions were lifted.
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