The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population recently sent a circular to the directorates of health affairs, explaining how to diagnose the new COVID variant JN.1. The WHO listed JN.1 as a separate “variant of interest” this week. A source from the ministry told Arab News: “The circular included a definition of the new COVID variant, which mainly affects the upper respiratory system, causing mild symptoms (that do not differ) from other Omicron variant strains.”