While the most transmissible new variety of Covid-19 has spread to over 100 nations, Pakistan stated on Tuesday that there have been 79 confirmed cases of Omicron across the country, with 85 percent of cases being transmitted locally.
To combat Omicron, Dr. Javed Akram, a member of the National Scientific Task Force on Covid-19, advised that the government tighten controls and limit the number of people who attend indoor gatherings like weddings.
Since the World Health Organization designated Omicron as a variant of concern on November 26, the Ministry of National Health Services, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), NIH, and provincial health departments have remained vigilant in their efforts to detect the new variant in Pakistan, according to a statement released by the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Furthermore, it claimed, “On December 13, the first case of Omicron was recorded in Karachi. A total of 75 Omicron cases had been confirmed as of December 27, including 33 in Karachi, 17 in Islamabad, and 13 in Lahore. Twelve of the cases were linked to international travel. In order to control the spread of the variation, the competent authorities have isolated the patients and begun contact tracing.”
On Tuesday, four more instances of Omicron were recorded in Islamabad, bringing the total number of cases in the city to 21.
The statement said, “Vaccination and SOPs (standard operating procedures) continue to be our best defense against Covid-19 despite the mutations being reported. All government-approved Covid-19 vaccines available in Pakistan remain highly effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalization. The government urges everyone to get both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine as well as the booster dose as per the eligibility criteria and process. More details are available at the NCOC website (ncoc.gov.pk) and Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline (1166).”
Dr. Javed Akram, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health Sciences said that the disease is detected according to public health principles. He stated, “As a result, it’s possible that some cases will go undetected.” I believe that because Omicron is the most transmissible form, limits should be tightened. Unfortunately, wedding season is in full swing, resulting in about 500 guests crammed into a hall with no one wearing a mask, including the bride and groom. The number of indoor guests, in my opinion, should be reduced. “Rather than wants, we should sacrifice our desires.”
Dr. Akram said, “People should get themselves vaccinated and strictly adhere to the SOPs. Omicron came from Africa and I fear that more variants may arrive from there because there is a very low vaccination rate in the continent. Omicron is more transmissible as compared to Delta, but luckily it is not as virulent as Delta.”
According to sources, Omicron was identified in a passenger who landed in Islamabad from the United Arab Emirates on December 25. A woman who had recently come from another country was also discovered to be positive. Omicron was found in two people in the Bahara Kahu neighborhood of the federal capital. This indicates that the virus’s local transmission has grown.
Omicron is extremely transmissible, according to Islamabad District Health Officer Dr. Zaeem Zia, who recommends that the general public get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Over the past 24 hours, 348 Covid-19 cases and six deaths have been reported across the country, according to NCOC data, with a nationwide positive rate of 0.87 percent. On Wednesday, 648 patients were in critical condition.
