DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.30772797
title: Epidemiological analysis of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Saudi Arabia

description: The global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ;(SARS-CoV-2) severely affects a tremendous number of people worldwide, imposing a heavy economic burden. This study describes the comprehensive epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Saudi Arabia. This retrospective observational study was performed with online available data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), and the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). The confirmed cases/deaths were analyzed from January 2020 to May 2023. The circulating clades and variants, along with their roles in infection waves, were identified. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Three main waves were observed: the first wave occurred in June 2020 (<i>n</i> = 103,052 cases), the second wave occurred in July 2021 (<i>n</i> = 38,478 cases), and the third wave occurred in January 2022 (<i>n</i> = 127,336 cases). The number of monthly reported deaths declined significantly after the vaccines were introduced. The prominent clades/variants were GH/Beta, GK/Delta, and GRA/Omicron, which drove the main waves. Urban areas and holy places such as Riyadh and Makkah are heavily affected. The most impacted group was 20–49-year-olds. This study makes a significant contribution to the scientific community by providing comprehensive epidemiological data from a demographically unique country, informing future pandemic preparedness and response strategies. Saudi Arabia is a country that has an unusual mix of people and various events ranging from a large number of foreign workers to large religious gatherings. These factors have a significant effect on the rate of infections caused by breathing-related diseases such as Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country. This study was a detailed investigation of the transmission of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia over a 41-month period. We traced the number of cases, deaths, and changes in the virus through online available data. We could locate three defining periods when the virus reached high levels of transmission, called “waves.” All the main waves were caused by different variants of the virus. The first wave occurred in June 2020, the second wave occurred in July 2021, and the largest wave occurred in January 2022. Our findings also revealed that after vaccination against COVID-19 was introduced, the number of deaths per month significantly decreased. Furthermore, the data also highlighted that metropolitan areas and holy sites had the highest number of infections, i.e. Riyadh and Makkah. Moreover, this study revealed that the 20–49-year-old age group had the most infections. This study is a direct representation of the gradual spread of the disease in Saudi Arabia. This information is crucial in assisting health authorities in planning their strategies and equipping themselves with any future health crisis. A 41-month analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Saudi Arabia. 3 major waves, a sharp decline in mortality postvaccination, and the highest impact in urban centers and the 20–49 year age group.