Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Population, stated that the coronavirus is now treated like one of the influenza types. He explained in response to a question about the Stratus variant, a mutation of the coronavirus, that respiratory viruses mutate periodically to survive. There is no need to treat the viruses differently as long as the variants do not increase the severity of the disease, mortality rates, or vaccine resistance. He emphasized that the ministry always encourages citizens to get the flu vaccine annually since its composition changes each year due to virus mutation. He stressed that unless the World Health Organization issues a new announcement regarding coronavirus, the virus and its variants remain similar to other viral mutations.

He pointed out that there are no health or precautionary measures other than those already recommended, especially good ventilation, surface cleaning, and wearing masks when infected or in crowded, poorly ventilated places. Regarding the Stratus variant, he explained that each virus affects the body differently; some raise temperature, some do not, some cause diarrhea or cramps, and others do not. He added that even the common cold causes different symptoms among individuals, which also depends on the person’s immune status.