New COVID-19 strain not detected in Saudi Arabia: health ministry

Passengers have their temperature checked by Saudi Health Ministry employees upon their arrival at King Khalid International Airport, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (File/Reuters)

• Health authorities say mutated strain did not change the way the virus affects humans

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia confirmed on Tuesday that the new strain of the coronavirus has not been detected in the Kingdom.
Saudi health ministry spokesperson, Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly, said the Kingdom has proven that the health of citizens and residents remains its top priority.
Saudi health representatives also said the mutated strain did not change the way the virus affects humans.
Earlier on Tuesday, the health ministry spokesperson said all those who have taken the COVID-19 vaccine are in good health and have shown no signs of unexpected symptoms.
He called on the public to register for the vaccine and urged everyone to acquire information related to the virus only from official accounts.
The Saudi Ministry of Health said the vaccination process is proceeding smoothly, and there are no complication among those who received the first dose of the vaccine.