Tel Aviv: Even as Omicron has made a comeback in some countries, a new variant of the coronavirus has been detected in Israel.
Israel’s Health minister Nitzan Horowitz claimed that two passengers were found to be infected with the new COVID-19 strain on arrival in Israel.
The likely new variant is said to be a combination of two Omicron sub-variants BA.1 and BA.2.
“This variant is still unknown around the world,” Israel’s health ministry said in a statement.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is yet to make an observation on the probable new variant.
A news report quoted a Health ministry official as saying that among the symptoms of this new variant are low fever, muscle aches and headaches. The good news is that like with Omicron, the new strain doesn’t require any special treatment, the report added.
Health ministry Director General Nachman Ash is of the view that the new variant may have originated in Israel.
“It’s likely that they were infected before boarding the flight in Israel. The variant could have emerged here,” Nachman Ash was quoted as saying.
“The phenomenon of combined variants is well known… At this point, we’re not concerned about the new variant leading to serious cases,” said an official.
Israel, however, is not taking it lightly with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett scheduled to meet Health officials to discuss and address the COVID-19 situation.
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