New COVID variant Arcturus raises concern

There has been renewed talk about the COVID-19 virus and its threat to health as well as the possibility of the return of some preventive measures following the alarming spread of the new mutant “Arcturus” (XBB.1.16), and the decision taken by some countries such as India to compel its citizens to wear masks again, reports Al-Rai daily.

In this context, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of the spread of the new variant around the world in the near future, stating that it spreads at an estimated 1.17 to 1.27 times more efficiently than the “Kraken” variant, which is another variant of the “Omicron” strain.

The Head of the World Health Organization’s Main Advisory Group of Experts for Vaccines and Immunization Stephen Griffin stressed the need to bring back the PCR tests and wear masks due to the high prevalence rates of the new variant. He told Mail Online, “It may seem like a return to where we were last year.”

Opinions vary globally regarding the new variant. Some experts classify it as “highly contagious” and may lead to a new wave of the epidemic. Others say there is no clear evidence that it is more dangerous than the previous and the currently prevalent variants in terms of death rates or hospital admissions.

The number of countries where the new variant has been registered has reached about 34 so far, including India, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Australia and Canada. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, technical chief for COVID-19 at the World Health Organization said, “The Arcturus mutant is one of more than 600 submutants produced from Omicron.”