Kuwait detects first case of omicron COVID-19 variant

Kuwait Ministry of Health and Prevention said that it has detected the first case of the new COVID-19 variant Omicron in Kuwait

The variant was detected in a European traveler who arrived to Kuwait from an African country where the variant had been detected, KUNA reported, citing a health ministry spokesman.

Health Ministry Spokesman Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad said the discovery came after authorities conducted sequencing tests that found the European man was infected with the Omicron variant.

He added that the ministry has taken necessary precautions since several nations announced discovering the new variant.

He said the man has been placed in institutional quarantine since his arrival at Kuwait airport. The ministry did not say when the man arrived in the country and from which African nation he had come from. It did not also reveal his age or health condition.

Currently, the pandemic situation in Kuwait is stable, according to Al-Sanad, however, citizens and residents have been advised to take the booster shot to help the ministry curb the spread.

On Wednesday, health authorities recorded 18 recoveries, one death and 33 new coronavirus infections, bringing the cases to a total of 413,588 in Kuwait.