Hatem further asserted the analysis and surveillance by research laboratories have not detected any new mutations of the virus in any governorate, adding that the Omicron sub-variants ba4 and ba5 are currently the most widespread in Egypt.

The XXB variant was first discovered in Singapore in August and is considered by some experts to be the most contagious variant.

According to current World Health Organisation Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan, the XXB is “immune-evasive,” meaning that it can “overcome… antibodies.” She warns that some countries may see a rise of infection due to it.

Rates of COVID-19 infection rates in Egypt are low to medium, Hatem said.

In late October, Presidential Health Adviser Awad Tag El-Din said that deaths related to the coronavirus in Egypt have fallen to almost zero during the current wave of the virus.

Egypt has experienced six coronavirus waves, the last of which was “extremely weak” in the severity of infection and the number of people infected, according to Tag El-Din.