Omicron spreading like a wildfire in Karachi, Pakistan’s new variant case tally surges to 372

Omicron variant is spreading like a wildfire in Karachi, Pakistan’s new variant case tally surges to 372!

Pakistan on Monday reported more than 700 COVID-19 cases in a single day, its highest tally in two months. 

As many as 403 new cases of Covid-19 have been detected in Sindh in the last 24 hours, of which 321 were only from Karachi.

The authorities warned of a fifth wave of infections and made preparations to try to contain the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

The region-wise breakdown of COVID cases and deaths is as follows:

• Sindh: 415 cases
• Punjab: 217 cases, 1 death
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 39 cases, 1 death
• Islamabad: 35 cases
• Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 2 cases
• Baluchistan: 0
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 0

Dr. Faisal Sultan, the special assistant to the prime minister on health has confirmed that a total of 372 infections of the new coronavirus variant, Omicron have been recorded so far in the country. 

Most of the cases have been reported from the major cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.

Dr. Sultan said that“Omicronis now in most large countries, and forms an ever-increasing proportion amongst the cases detected.”

Symptoms of Omicron are similar, said Dr. Faisal Sultan.

“It is a respiratory illness, cough, fever, body pain. Some get it mild (esp the vaccinated) but be precautions as saying it is ‘mild’ too soon,” he added. 

“We’ll know more when cases go up as to how it works in Pakistan.”

Coronavirus positivity rate has touched 6% in Karachi, while 321 cases were reported from the metropolis on Sunday:

The fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Karachi has started as a rapid surge in the coronavirus cases is observed.

Administrator Karachi Murtaza Wahab in a press conference on Monday has revealed that the coronavirus infection rate in Karachi has crossed 6%.

The majority of the cases reported in the city are of the Omicron variant.

He warned that in the upcoming weeks, the cases of the new strain will increase.

Wahab advised people to get vaccinated, wear masks at all times, maintain social distancing, and avoid gatherings to protect themselves from the deadly virus.

“For now, the Sindh government is not imposing any restrictions,” he added.

The first case of the Omicron variant was reported on Dec. 13 in Karachi and a total of 75 cases were confirmed up to Dec. 27, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).