Iran announces first case of Omicron COVID variant Coronavirus pandemic News

Health officials have warned that safety protocols should not be ignored after a Omicron variant is detected in a passenger returning from the UAE.

Tehran, Iran – The Iranian Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country.

A government official told state television on Sunday that a highly contagious variant had been detected in a middle-aged Iranian man who had just returned from a nearby variant.

The ministry is also monitoring two other suspected cases.

The news comes as part of a widespread vaccination campaign with low numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths that Iran has experienced relative calm over the weeks.

More than 60 percent of the population has received two doses of a vaccine, and most people can now get a booster vaccine.

Iran, with a population of 85 million, has also produced a number of local vaccines, some of which are deployed in the national vaccination campaign and are expected to be expanded on a larger scale in the future.

But the country is the hardest hit in the Middle East with more than 6.1 million cases, including more than 131,000 deaths.

The number of daily deaths has dropped to double the number of 709 deaths recorded at the end of August.

The health ministry announced 50 deaths and 1,968 new cases on Sunday.

But when the Omicron variant was detected in the country, health officials also warned of serious consequences in Iran for failing to comply with health protocols.

The scientific committee of the National Anti-Coronary Anti-Virus Committee called for the immediate closure of gathering places in enclosed spaces such as schools, concerts and restaurants to prevent the rapid spread of the Omicron variant for at least four weeks.

However, such a closure seems very difficult because the country has rarely used it even in the worst of times.

Earlier this month, Iran gradually began to implement a “smart protocol” plan that would allow almost all activities for vaccinated citizens, but would set limits, for example, on travel for people without vaccines.