Delta mutant bigger risk than Omicron: Hijjawi

Member of the National Committee for Epidemiology, Dr. Bassam Hijjawi, said Friday that the Delta mutant is a bigger risk to Jordan than the Omicron variant. 

Hijjawi added, during his hosting of the Roya news bulletin, that Jordan had implemented, at an early stage, strong procedures and a protocol to detect the Omicron variant on its soil, pointing out that all countries were expecting to record omicron infections.

Hijjawi indicated that the epidemiological investigation teams are taking extensive measures to detect contacts with registered infections, and to reach the source of infection in Jordan.

Hijjawi pointed out that mutants come to Jordan from abroad, but this does not prevent the coronavirus from mutating in Jordan.

Regarding the world's concern about Omicron, Hijjawi said that the world is concerned because the variant could exacerbate waves of the virus that certain countries are still experiencing. 

Hijjawi stressed that Jordan will not return to square one, and that only simple measures will be taken to deal with Omicron.