New COVID-19 Variants: Ministry of Health urges public vaccination for prevention

The Ministry of Health announced the detection of new COVID-19 variants on Wednesday. Following the Whole Genome Sequencing process, which commenced on December 28, 2023, 18 lab specimens were tested, revealing that 16 of them contained new variants.

Among these variants, Omicron HV.1, JN.1, and EG.5.1.8 were identified in three specimens from individuals who had returned from Singapore. Additionally, local transmission cases included 11 specimens with Omicron JN.1 and XBB.1.16.17 variants.

All infectious patients have successfully recovered and have been discharged from hospitals. According to the World Health Organization, the newly identified variant JN.1 exhibits a lower impact on public health, despite having a high transmission rate.

As a preventive measure, the public is strongly urged to receive COVID-19 vaccinations to reduce the severity of the disease.