Mutant COVID-19 virus mostly affects younger people

Muscat: The genetic mutation of the COVID-19 virus mostly affects young age groups less than 20 years old, Director General of Infectious Diseases for Surveillance and Control at the Ministry of Health said on Tuesday. 

Dr. Saif bin Salim Al Abri, Director General of Infectious Diseases for Surveillance and Control at the Ministry of Health, spoke to Oman TV about the discovery of the first case of a genetic mutation of the COVID-19 virus, ”One of the challenges that we may face is the increase in the number of cases due to the new rapidly spreading mutation, and thus it may cause an increase in pressure on health institutions, whether hospitalisation or Intensive care.”

Al Abri continued, "This gene mutation mostly affects young age groups less than 20 years old."

He added, "Most of the cases, from 60 to 70% in the Sultanate, are related to travel."

A statement issued by the Ministry of Health (MOH) regarding the Sultanate has registered the first case of mutant coronavirus, ”The ministry announces the registration of the first case of the new variant strain of SARS-COV-2 that has been declared recently in the United Kingdom and other countries.”

The statement completed, ”The infected case is for a male resident who came from the UK. The respiratory symptoms have appeared while he is under isolation. His COVID-19 tests that have been undertaken before and at arriving in the Sultanate were negative. All public health measures have been enforced to deal with the infected person, who is currently in a good condition and under home isolation.”

The statement assured the vigilance and preparedness of the health system in the Sultanate to monitor, diagnose and deal with public health emergencies, which include preventive measures in the border entry points, epidemiological surveillance and raising diagnostic capacities in the central public health laboratories.

The Ministry urged all citizens and residents to adhere to the Supreme Committee’s decisions with regard to avoiding travelling outside the Sultanate unless in strictly necessary cases, taking into consideration the widespread of the mutant COVID-19 worldwide.

“The Ministry calls upon all target groups to get the COVID-19 vaccine, maintain physical distancing and isolation measures, as well as follow the protective measures of infection control,” the statement added.