Spike in Omicron variant: Smart lockdown enforced in Karachi 

KARACHI: The district administration has enforced a smart lockdown in several areas of Karachi’s South district due to spike of Omicron variant cases on Monday. 

In this regard, a notification has been issued. The notification states that multiple localities of Garden, Saddar and Civil Lines areas will remain under smart lockdown.

Unnecessary movement of the people residing in areas under lockdown shall be restricted. No gathering of three or more persons shall be allowed in public spaces.

The micro lockdown shall remain until active cases in these areas come down to zero. All businesses shall ensure COVID-19 SOPs are followed in letter and spirit.

It is pertinent to mention here that 402 cases of Omicron variant have been reported in the city’s South district so far including the highest number of infections in the Garden area.

On the other hand, Pakistan had witnessed an enormous spike in its daily tally of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) after as many as 7,195 new infections were logged in the last 24 hours, according to morning update by ministry of health.

Pakistan’s COVID positivity rate now stands at 12.53%. While, the cumulative tally of the country has now climbed to 1,374,800.  

As the fifth wave of COVID-19 intensifies in Pakistan reported 7,195 new coronavirus infections, a new daily record, with authorities linking the spike with the Omicron variant of virus.  

According to the latest figures issued by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 7,195 persons were tested positive while 8 died in the past 24 hours— taking Pakistan's COVID death toll to 29,097.     

As many as 1,269,078 patients have recovered from the disease.  

Punjab
The number of patients swelled to 464,431 in the province with 13,108 causalities.

Sindh
The number of infections has surged to 526,899 in the province, while the death toll has reached 7,741.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The confirmed cases have surged to 185,340 in the province with 5,975 casualties.

Balochistan
There are 33,941 confirmed cases while 367 patients have died from the infection so far.

AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan
There are 35,400 coronavirus cases in the AJK while the death toll has reached 751. On the other hand, there are 10,497 cases in GB with 187 coronavirus deaths.

Islamabad
There are 118,292 cases in the capital city while 976 people have lost their lives.