Oman’s Ministry of Health announced that it has registered two cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 today [December 13, 2021]. 

This is the first time the new variant of the Coronavirus has been detected in the Sultanate.

While it is understood that the registered patients entered Oman from abroad recently, the ministry is yet to disclose further details. The conditions of the patients are reportedly stable and they are subject to epidemiological investigation.

Earlier this month, both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates registered cases of the new variant.

Details on the Omicron variant still remain unknown as researchers are currently learning the effects of the mutation on humans. Experts believe that there are at least 50 mutations on the new variant, with 32 mutations on the spike protein, the part of the virus that enters human cells.

Doctors in South Africa report that patients detected with Omicron suffer from nausea, headaches, fatigue, and a high pulse rate. Albeit, none seem to suffer from a loss of taste or smell, which has been the case with most other COVID-19 mutations.

MinisyOf Health Registers Cases of #Omicron pic.twitter.com/1bkY7qgsYz

— وزارة الصحة – سلطنة عُمان (@OmaniMOH) December 13, 2021