Covid-19 surge in Gulf: New variant, hotspots, low vaccines, and data gaps raise concern
Wednesday, 9 July 2025 () A fast-spreading Covid variant, NB.1.8.1, is driving a sharp rise in cases across Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman. Low vaccination rates and poor hospital reporting are making it harder to track the impact. Experts warn the region is underprepared as testing drops, immunity wanes, and real-time data remains limited.
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