A1 Omicron is milder variant

Adding to this, Dr Saif bin Salim Al Abri, the Director General of Disease Surveillance and Control at the Ministry of Health, said that the Omicron variant could reinfect those who have previously contracted and recovered from the disease.

“Vaccines are mainly designed to curb deaths, so infections of vaccinated people are normal,” he said. “Compared to the Alpha variant, Omicron is milder, but it’s fast prevalence is dangerous, so we expect an increase in admissions, which may exhaust the health sector.” The DG added that people who had been vaccinated, and had tested positive for Omicron had mild symptoms, and were not admitted to hospitals. There are 13 health centres across Oman’s 11 governorates that collect specimens from COVID-19 infections. Lab tests do provide indication about the virus, which in turn can be used to work on its genetic strains.

In this context, Bader bin Saif Al Rawahi, the Director of Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, added that the third vaccine dose is especially crucial for people receiving immunosuppressive treatments.

“This is given to people one to three months after they receive their second dose,” he said, “However, a booster dose is for everyone over the age of 18, and strengthens their immune system. We expect that we can contain the Omicron variant if the majority receive the third and booster doses.

“In order to reach societal immunity, we need to increase the number of vaccinated people in Oman,” he added.

“Four percent of target groups have received the third and booster doses.”