Saudis, UAE detect first cases of new coronavirus variant

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates say they have detected their first cases of the new coronavirus variant, marking the first known instances of omicron infections in the Persian Gulf region. Saudi Arabia’s state-run Saudi Press Agency said Wednesday its case was a citizen coming from a “North African country.” The report said the infected individual and his close contacts had been quarantined. The UAE also reported its first case of infection with the omicron variant late Wednesday. State-run WAM news agency described the patient as an African woman who traveled from an African country through an Arab country, without specifying which nations.