Pakistan to face 5th wave of global epidemic as country reports Omicron cases

Islamabad: Health experts in Pakistan have raised concerns about a fifth wave of corona epidemics, as the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed that the toll from coronavirus' new Omicron variant in Pakistan has reached a total of 75 as of December 27.

In a statement, the NIH noted the first case of the variant was reported on December 13 in Karachi after the World Health Organisation (WHO) designated it as a "variant of concern" on November 26.

Thirty-three cases of the variant have been reported in Karachi, 17 in Islamabad, and 13 in Lahore, while 12 of the total 75 cases were associated with international travel, the NIH said.

Health ministry officials say the rapid rise in cases of Omicron indicates that the cases will be reported from across the country in the next two weeks.

According to medical experts, 3,000 to 4,000 new cases of corona may be reported daily in mid-February next year.

The institution said since then, the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), NIH, and provincial health departments have remained vigilant to detect the variant in Pakistan.

The health institution said relevant authorities have isolated the patients and initiated contact tracing in order to control the spread of the variant.

"The vaccination and standard operations procedures (SOPs) continue to be our best defence against COVID-19 despite the mutations being reported," the NIH told the masses.

The NIH noted that all government-approved COVID-19 vaccines available in Pakistan "remain highly effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalisation".

Authorities said that the vaccination can protect against the deadly disease.

The NIH urged everyone to get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and the booster dose as per the eligibility criteria and process.