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COVID-19 : Omicron variant in Pakistan

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MenInG

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Pakistan has detected its first 'suspected' case of the Omicron variant in Karachi, said the provincial health minister on Thursday.

Sindh Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuho said the authorities "suspect the case to be of the Omicron variant due to the virus' behaviour".

"The genome sequencing has not been done as of now, but we suspect it to be the Omicron variant due to the manner in which the virus is behaving".

She added that the suspected Omicron-affected patient is a 57-year old woman from the provincial capital.

"The Omicron variant spreads quickly, but recent reports from South Africa suggest that the variant does not cause serious illness or a high number of deaths," added the provincial health minister.

A spokesperson for the Aga Khan University Hospital confirmed the development and said they had "received the first patient suspected of having Covid-19 Omicron variant".

"We are awaiting the results of the final (genome sequencing) confirmatory test, which will take a few days and have reported the suspected patient to the health department."

He added that the patient has been discharged. "Our current COVID-19 prevention and management protocols are adequate for the treatment of the virus," the hospital spokesperson assured.

Earlier this week, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) announced travel restrictions in the wake of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, adding 8 more countries, mostly European, in Category C, banning in-bound passengers.

With the latest expansion, the number of countries on Category C increased from 7 to 15. The list comprises The Netherlands, Hungary, Ireland, Croatia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Vietnam, Poland, South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The NCOC added that there would be a complete ban on the passengers coming to Pakistan from Category C countries. It added that only ‘essential’ travel from those countries would be possible, subject to an exemption certificate from a special committee.

The forum further said that vaccination would be mandatory for all travellers coming to Pakistan, along with a PCR test, which would be mandatory for Pakistanis and foreigners above the age of 6 years, adding that the PCR test must be taken 48 hours before boarding.

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus was first detected by South African health authorities last month and dubbed a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO). Scientists are still gathering data to establish how contagious and severe it is.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/233312...-suspected-case-of-omicron-variant-in-karachi
 
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Finding these “variants of concern” after the event only ever has one outcome. Said it in another thread that Omicron is probably everywhere by now, and will be spreading at the rate of knots.
 
NO OMICRON CASE CONFIRMED IN PAKISTAN: NIH

ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) has said no case of Omicron, the new variant of coronavirus, has been confirmed in Pakistan as yet.

Responding to media reports of a “suspected case” of Omicron variant reported in a female patient, the NIH clarified, “the sample is not yet confirmed to be Omicron via whole genome sequencing, which is to be performed after obtaining the sample.”

Earlier today, the Sindh Health Department said that a female patient with a travel history has been diagnosed with the Omicron variant at a private hospital in Karachi.

It said officials are trying to find out her travel history and contacts. The woman has been discharged from hospital and is isolating at her home.

https://arynews.tv/no-omicron-case-confirmed-in-pakistan-nih/
 
KARACHI: Days after a suspected case of Omicron virus was detected in Karachi, Agha Khan University Hospital (AKUH) on Monday confirmed the presence of the Omicron variant in an unvaccinated Covid-19 patient.

In a statement, the hospital said the patient was isolated at home and doing well. The statement added that so far only one case of the variant has been detected in the country.

The Omicron case was also confirmed by the National Institue of Health in the federal capital. NIMS said this is the "first confirmed case but continued surveillance of identified samples is in place to identify trends".

The NCOC urged people to vaccinate for protection against the serious effects of existing and new variants.

On Thursday, Pakistan detected its first ‘suspected’ case of the Omicron variant in Karachi. “The genome sequencing has not been done as of now, but we suspect it to be the Omicron variant due to the manner in which the virus is behaving,” the Sindh health minister had stated.

“The Omicron variant spreads quickly, but recent reports from South Africa suggest that the variant does not cause serious illness or a high number of deaths,” the minister had said at the time.

Last week, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) had announced travel restrictions in the wake of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, adding eight more countries, mostly European, in Category C, banning in-bound passengers.

With the latest expansion, the number of countries on Category C increased from seven to 15.

The list comprises The Netherlands, Hungary, Ireland, Croatia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Vietnam, Poland, South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The WHO has been in constant touch with the government of Pakistan following the reports of suspected cases of the Omicron variant, while other international and aviation authorities are also keeping an eye on Pakistan.

In case the report comes back positive and the presence of variant is confirmed, travel bans may also be imposed on the country and the government may take strong lockdown measures.

On November 26, the WHO named the new Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa, as 'Omicron'. The WHO has classified Omicron as a 'variant of concern'.

Dozens of countries have imposed travel restrictions on the southern African nations since the mutation was discovered.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2333670/pakistan-confirms-first-omicron-case
 
Pakistanis stranded in Category C countries have been given the green signal to return home till December 31 by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

This was confirmed by the NCOC in a statement issued Tuesday. The stranded Pakistanis includes anyone with a valid National Identity Card of Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC). They will be permitted to return to Pakistan without exemption till December 31.

According to the NCOC, passengers travelling from Category C countries will be required to submit proof of vaccination and take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test 48 hours prior to boarding.

They will be placed under mandatory quarantine upon arrival, if they are travelling from countries that have been hit by the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the centre stated in a statement.

Separately, as vaccination of youngsters from 15 to 18 years of age has not started in some countries, the NCOC said mandatory full vaccination for inbound passengers between 15 to 18 years of age has been extended till January 31, 2022 instead of December 1, 2021.

Earlier, the NCOC had added eight more names to its Category C list of countries from where travellers are banned from entering Pakistan in wake of the threat of the new COVID-19 variant Omicorn.

The new Category C list includes Croatia, Hungary, Netherlands, Ukraine, Ireland, Slovenia, Vietnam, Poland, South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The health and testing protocols for inbound air travel from Category C countries include a complete ban on inbound travel from Category C countries.

GEO
 
Won't be many countries who will escape this variant.

Is Pakistan planning a booster campaign as other countries have?
 
KARACHI: A second case of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been reported from Karachi, sources within the Sindh Health Department said Friday.

Sources privy to the matter said that the 35-year-old infected individual travelled to Karachi from Britain and first tested positive for coronavirus in random checking.

The Omicron infection was confirmed in the affected person later through genome sequencing, the source said.

In a strange twist of events, however, the sources said that the infected person escaped from the quarantine centre after being shifted to a private hotel on Shahrae Faisal from the airport.

The home department, police and relevant deputy commissioner are responsible for providing security at the quarantine centres, the source said, adding that another 19 people are currently quarantined at the hotel, but the authorities concerned haven't provided security as yet.

They said that 38 people have managed to flee quarantine due to the absence of security. Five out of the 19 people have to undergo genome sequencing, they added.

Pakistan has restricted travel to and from countries falling under Category C and those affected by the Omicron outbreak. However, Britain doesn't fall under Category C.

GEO
 
12 suspected Omicron cases have been detected in Balochistan - all from the town of Kalat - an official said

He also said that their samples had been sent to a government lab in Rawalpindi for confirmation.
 
Six more suspected cases of Omicron variant reported in Karachi

Six more suspected cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus have been reported in Karachi, the Sindh Health Department said on Thursday.

According to the health department, four of the patients had recently returned from South Africa while two others arrived from the United Kingdom. The samples of all six patients have been sent for further verification.

On Wednesday, at least 30 suspected cases of the new variant were reported from the Kalat area of Balochistan.

The provincial health department said that the new cases emerged after a patient tested positive for the virus."The samples of the suspected Omicron patients have been sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad for genome sequencing," it added.

The health department has directed the district administration to trace the affected patients and isolate them.

On December 9, the first Omicron variant case was detected in Karachi by doctors at a private hospital, which was later confirmed by the NIH, while another case was also reported from the port city on 13 December."The NIH has been able to confirm (via whole genome sequencing) that a recently suspected sample from Karachi is indeed the ‘Omicron variant’ of SARS-CoV2," NIH said in a tweet.

"This is the first confirmed case but continued surveillance of suspected samples is in place to identify the trends," it added.

In another tweet, NIH stressed the importance of getting vaccinated to protect from the serious effects of existing and new variants. The institute urged the citizens to get vaccinated according to guidelines issued by the National Command and Operation Centre.

https://www.brecorder.com/news/4014...-cases-of-omicron-variant-reported-in-karachi
 
Saj said:
Won't be many countries who will escape this variant.

Is Pakistan planning a booster campaign as other countries have?
Click to expand...

There is no impact of covid in Pak, unlike Western countries there was some panic during the so called 1st wave but everything is fine.
 
The National Institute of Health (NIH) on Tuesday said that a total of 75 cases of the Covid-19 Omicron variant have been confirmed in the country so far.

In a statement, the NIH said that the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC), the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and the provincial departments were vigilantly keeping an eye on Omicron cases in Pakistan ever since it was designated a variant of concern by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"The first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 was reported on December 13 in Karachi," the statement said.

"As of December 27, a total of 75 Omicron cases have been confirmed; 33 in Karachi, 17 in Islamabad and 13 in Lahore," the statement said, adding that the remaining 12 cases were associated with international travel. The NIH did not provide any further details.

"The relevant authorities have isolated the patients and initiated contract tracing in order to control the spread of the variant," the NIH said.

Vaccination and following standard operating procedures (SOPs) continue to be our best defence against Covid-19 despite the mutations being reported, the statement added.

"All government approved Covid-19 vaccines available in Pakistan remain highly effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalisation. 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," the statement said.

Pakistan reported its first suspected case of the Omicron variant on December 8. Following its gene-sequencing, Aga Khan University Hospital confirmed it was the new variant on Dec 13.

On Dec 25, Islamabad had confirmed its first case. Islamabad District Health Officer (DHO) Zaeem Zia told Dawn.com that the case was detected in a 47-year-old male, adding that he was working in Islamabad and had travelled out of city for work-related purposes. The patient had no history of travelling abroad, he said.

'Inevitable arrival'
Last month, Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had sounded the alarm, saying that the arrival of the Omicron variant was inevitable and a matter of time.

"This [strain] has to spread in the whole world as we saw before that when a variant comes, the world is so interconnected that it is impossible to stop it," Umar had said, adding that vaccination was the most logical solution to curb the threat.

Pakistan had placed a complete ban on November 27 on travel from six south African countries — South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia — and Hong Kong in the wake of the variant's discovery.

This travel ban was later extended to nine more countries — Croatia, Hungary, Netherlands, Ukraine, Ireland, Slovenia, Vietnam, Poland and Zimbabwe.

Additionally, the National Command and Operating Centre placed 13 countries – United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, Azerbaijan, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Russia, Thailand, France, Austria, Afghanistan and Turkey – in category B.

All passengers from these countries need to be fully vaccinated, while everyone above the age of six must possess a negative PCR test report issued not more than 48 hours before boarding.

Omicron has been classified by the World Health Organisation as a "highly transmissible" variant — the same category that includes the predominant Delta variant.

DAWN
 
I will be happily surprised if Omnicorn does not bring out another covid surge in Pakistan , its just matter of time . Its so contagious , spreading so rapidly here in USA. Almost all the hospitalized cases are unvaccinated people.
 
The local government imposed a 15-day micro-smart lockdown in Karachi's District East on Saturday after the emergence of at least 12 cases of Omicron variant in the area.

According to a notification issued by the deputy commissioner’s office, the lockdown was imposed in Gulshan-e-Iqbal's Block 7 area and other hotspots on the report of the district health officers.

"In exercise of powers conferred under Section 3 of the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act 2014 (as amended in 2020), I, Taha Saleem, Deputy Commissioner District Karachi East hereby impose smart lockdown and micro-smart lockdown, which shall be enforced in the streets and houses of specified area respectively as given below, for a definite period of two weeks only," the notification read.

After the imposition of the smart lockdown, there will be a ban on all sorts of public gatherings in the area, the notification said, adding that the government will strictly enforce the implementation of the SOPs.

"In order to reduce the transmission and spread of Covid-19, besides mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing interventions, it is also fundamental to ensure isolation, contact tracing and testing being the three pillars of TTT (TTQ) strategy of the government for the containment of Covid-19," the notification added.

According to the notification, the restrictions will remain in place till Jan 14 to avert a health crisis.

On Tuesday, the National Institute of Health confirmed 75 cases of the Omicron strain of Covid-19 across the country.

"Since [the] WHO [World Health Organisation] designated Omicron as a Variant of Concern on November 26, 2021, the Ministry of NHSRC [National Health Systems Resource Centre], NCOC, NIH [National Institute of Health] and the provincial health departments have remained vigilant to detect the variant in Pakistan," read an official statement.

"The first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 was reported on December 13 in Karachi. As of December 27, 2021, a total of 75 Omicron cases have been confirmed – 33 in Karachi, 17 in Islamabad and 13 in Lahore," it had added.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2336640/karachis-gulshan-e-iqbal-area-under-smart-lockdown
 
My optimistic prediction . There will be another covid surge in Pakistan with omicron variant ( you cannot stop it ) but there will be less hospitalizations and deaths and after that herd immunity will develop and 2023 will be a much much better year.

Which ever Party will win in 2023 , will be lucky to be in a position when world economy will be at surge and covid will not be holding back economy and effecting inflation. If it would be PML or PPP, that would be a wonderful opportunity for them to fill the pockets of "poor" people with lots of money and we all know their definition of "poor" people--------- their own family and friends .
 
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) Chief and Planning Minister Asad Umar on Sunday said that clear evidence of the beginning of another Covid wave in the country was now apparent.

The minister took to his official Twitter handle and stated that genome sequencing has shown a rising proportion of Omicron, “particularly in Karachi”.

He urged people to wear masks, adding that it was their “best protection”.

Umar's tweet comes a few days after the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed 75 cases of the Omicron strain of Covid-19 across the country, two weeks after the first case was reported in Karachi.

"The first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 was reported on December 13 in Karachi. As of December 27, 2021, a total of 75 Omicron cases have been confirmed – 33 in Karachi, 17 in Islamabad and 13 in Lahore," read an official statement.

Smart lockdown

The local government imposed a 15-day micro-smart lockdown in Karachi's District East on Saturday after the emergence of at least 12 cases of Omicron variant in the area.

According to a notification issued by the deputy commissioner’s office, the lockdown was imposed in Gulshan-e-Iqbal's Block 7 area and other hotspots on the report of the district health officers.

"In exercise of powers conferred under Section 3 of the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act 2014 (as amended in 2020), I, Taha Saleem, Deputy Commissioner District Karachi East hereby impose smart lockdown and micro-smart lockdown, which shall be enforced in the streets and houses of specified area respectively as given below, for a definite period of two weeks only," the notification read.

Covid 'tsunami'

A Covid "tsunami" threatens to overwhelm healthcare systems, the WHO said Wednesday, as record surges fuelled by the Omicron variant dampened New Year celebrations around the world once again.

Governments are walking a tightrope between anti-virus restrictions and the need to keep societies and economies open, as the highly transmissible variant drove cases to levels never seen before in the United States, Britain, France and Denmark.

The blistering surge was illustrated by AFP's tally of 6.55 million new infections reported globally in the week ending Tuesday, the highest the figure has been since the World Health Organization declared a Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2336774/ncoc-chief-says-beginning-of-new-covid-wave-evident-in-pakistan
 
ISLAMABAD: Officials of the capital administration on Thursday said so far 32 Omicron cases have been reported in Islamabad and they may increase in the coming days.

People have been advised to receive booster shots and strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).

They said they had been observing the situation closely so that all necessary steps could be taken to prevent further spread of the variant, they added.

Islamabad and Rawalpindi districts have reported 31 and 11 fresh cases of Covid-19 whereas three patients were discharged from Rawalpindi hospitals. On the other hand, the District Health Authority (DHA) of Rawalpindi on Thursday sent 30 suspected samples to the National Institute of Health (NIH) for detection of the variant.

30 samples from Rawalpindi sent to NIH for detection of Omicron variant

Positivity ratio in the capital was 0.6pc while in Rawalpindi district, it rose to 0.8pc from 0.5pc. A total of 1,360 samples were sent for testing out of which, 11 turned out to be positive, the DHA officials said.

So far 108,565 residents of the capital contracted the virus, out of which 107,347 recovered and 967 passed away. There are 251 active cases of Covid-19 in the capital currently, they added.

Talking to Dawn, DHA (Rawalpindi) spokesman Dr Waqar Ahmed said the number of the Covid-19 patients was increasing in the district as compared to last month. “We collected samples of 30 suspected Omicron patients and sent them to NIH for serology and the reports will arrive in a day or two”, he said, adding an awareness campaign to educate people about the virus was also started.

He said everyone should wear a face mask and continue maintaining social distance, adding, so far 70pc of the population in the district had been vaccinated. The 30pc unvaccinated persons could become a major source of Omicron spread.

The health authority recommended to the district administration to enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs). He said that it was the responsibility of the people to adopt safety measures and protect lives of their near and dear ones.

In Rawalpindi district, there are 83 active patients. As many as 21 are in hospitals and 62 patients are home isolated. Eight patients arrived from city areas and one patient from cantonment areas while two patients each arrived from Bahawalnagar and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), respectively.

There are 21 patients admitted in different hospitals of Rawalpindi city including two in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, five in Fauji Foundation Hospital, 13 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) while one patient is admitted in Attock Hospital.

Two patients are on ventilators in Rawalpindi, eight are on oxygen support and 13 are stable.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2021
 
34 Omicron cases confirmed in Islamabad in the last 24 hours.
 
Omicron is the mildest variant of COVID according to most doctors and researchers, this virus will continue to mutate until it's so benign that we'll treat it like another flu. I believe this is the year the pandemic ends.
 
Giannis said:
Omicron is the mildest variant of COVID according to most doctors and researchers, this virus will continue to mutate until it's so benign that we'll treat it like another flu. I believe this is the year the pandemic ends.
Click to expand...

Its " milder" compared to Delta but not so mild to ignore it. People are still dying and hospitals are full again in USA with new wave of Omicron. Vast majority of the people dying and hospitalized are unvaccinated ones. Unvaccinated people should be very worried about their status and this virus is very contagious.
 
MenInG said:
34 Omicron cases confirmed in Islamabad in the last 24 hours.
Click to expand...

I'm very worried about the new wave in Pakistan , it just a matter of time. I seriously hope I am wrong but not sure how Pakistan will be spared . But I'm also hopeful Omicron will prodice much needed herd immunity in Pakistan without causing lots of deaths and hospitalizations and lock downs .
 
Pakistan reported 708 new coronavirus cases on Monday for the previous 24 hours, making it the first time since October 30, 2021 that daily infections have exceeded 700.

The country had recorded 733 infections on that date.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the positivity rate has risen to 1.55 per cent.


The countrywide breakdown of cases and deaths for the last 24 hours:

Sindh: 415 cases
Punjab: 217 cases, 1 death
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 39 cases, 1 death
Islamabad: 35 cases
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 2 cases
No new infections were reported in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The rise in cases from the previous day's 594 came on the heels of Planning Minister Asad Umar warning that there was clear evidence of another Covid-19 wave as cases of the new variant, Omicron, increased — particularly in Karachi.

The minister said the recent surge in cases seemed to be due to the most transmissible variant of Covid-19, Omicron.

“Genome sequencing is showing a rising proportion of Omicron cases, particularly in Karachi. Remember, wearing a mask is your best protection,” he tweeted on Sunday.

The federal minister's emphasis on Karachi came in the wake of a micro-smart lockdown imposed on Friday in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block 7, after 12 members of a family tested positive for the Omicron variant.

Meanwhile, medical professionals have also raised concerns about the variant. “Omicron variant of coronavirus is going to cause a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in our country including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in coming days as this infection is unlikely to be prevented by the two doses of vaccine,” Prof Khalid Mahmood, a physician at Lady Reading Hospital, told Dawn.

Prof Ziaul Haq, the vice-chancellor of Khyber Medical University, said that a booster dose was highly recommended for fully immunised people in view of the new variant.

"Projections and international trends are alarming and we may have a very heavy fifth wave on our way with predominant Omicron variant,” he said. The doubling time of Omicron is two to three days compared to two-week of Delta and this may lead to a tsunami of cases.

Prof Zia said that the Omicron variant had a high number of asymptomatic cases, therefore, the unknown positive cases in Pakistan may already be very high than the reported ones.

Meanwhile, booster shots are going to start today for people aged over 30 years who have been fully vaccinated at least six months ago. On Dec 20, the NCOC had allowed booster shots for people aged over 30 years because of Omicron's spread to over 100 countries, including Pakistan.

Talking to Dawn, Ministry of National Health Services Director General Dr Rana Safdar said booster doses of choice would be given to citizens.

“It means that mix and match has been allowed or booster of the same company which was administered earlier can be given as per choice of the people,” he had said.

NCOC reviews situation
The NCOC also reviewed the current situation of the disease in the country today and determined that the fifth wave was being driven by the Omicron variant and was "spreading at a great pace".

"The forum agreed upon taking strict measures regarding obligatory vaccination regime," said a press release issued from the body.

The forum also took note of the rise in Karachi's positivity in the last three days from two per cent to 6pc.

The NCOC urged people to get themselves vaccinated and follow Covid-19 standard operating procedures to curb the spread of the fifth wave.

Additionally, district wise vaccination targets were set and the forum was informed that "all-out efforts" were being made by engaging provinces to ensure they achieve their targets as soon as possible.

'Inevitable' arrival
In November, Umar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had sounded the alarm, saying that the arrival of the Omicron variant was inevitable and a matter of time.

"This [strain] has to spread in the whole world as we saw before that when a variant comes, the world is so interconnected that it is impossible to stop it," Umar had said, adding that vaccination was the most logical solution to curb the threat.

Pakistan had placed a complete ban on Nov 27 on travel from six south African countries — South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia — and Hong Kong in the wake of the variant's discovery.

This travel ban was later extended to nine more countries — Croatia, Hungary, Netherlands, Ukraine, Ireland, Slovenia, Vietnam, Poland and Zimbabwe.

Additionally, the National Command and Operating Centre placed 13 countries comprising United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, Azerbaijan, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Russia, Thailand, France, Austria, Afghanistan and Turkey in category B.

All passengers from these countries need to be fully vaccinated, while everyone above the age of six must possess a negative PCR test report issued not more than 48 hours before boarding.

DAWN
 
Get ready for a new and the worst wave .

Get maximum people vaccinated

Lockdown will not work with this virus but cancel the public gathering and try to keep social distancing and mask everyone while indoor .

Hopefully , like SA this wave will be not last too long , but only if we acted with responsibility.
 
Pakistan makes Covid vaccination and proof of such vaccination mandatory for all incoming international passengers aged 15 and older

A negative PCR test will also be required withing 48 hours of travel to Pakistan - for all persons aged 6 and older
 
Fuelled by the Omicron variant, the 5th wave of coronavirus pandemic continued to show an upward trajectory, as the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) reported 1,293 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, the highest tally in three months.

According to the data, the highest number of cases were reported from Sindh, where the authorities announced new measures to contain the spread of the virus. According to the provincial statistics, the number of Omicron cases in Karachi rose to 307 on Friday from 268 a day earlier.

It was second consecutive day of more than 1,000 daily cases. On October 6, the NCOC had reported over 1,400 cases and 1,083 cases on October 14. In the daily update on Friday, the NCOC said that the national positivity ratio during the last 24 hours was 2.52% up from 2.32% a day ago.

The highest number of cases, 759, was reported in Sindh, followed by 376 in Punjab. The Sindh Health Department said that the positivity rate in Karachi which was 4.74% on December 31, 2021, rose to 10.25% on January 6.

A spokesperson for the Sindh chief minister said in a statement that the total number of Omicron infection had risen to 307 in the province. The provincial government had said that despite the surge, the authorities would not resort to any lockdown for now, rather vaccination drive would be intensified.

In such a move, the Sindh government made coronavirus vaccination mandatory for students aged 12 years and above.

According to a notification issued by the Sindh Education Department on Friday, the decision had been taken to protect students from the virus and continue the educational process.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2337710/single-day-covid-tally-hits-three-month-high
 
Pakistan reports highest daily increase in Coronavirus cases since the first week of October 2021 with 1,572 new cases reported in the past 24 hours

The positivity rate for daily new cases has now risen to 3.16%
 
Pakistan reports more than 3,000 new cases for first time in nearly 4 months

Pakistan has detected 3,019 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, nearly 1,000 more compared to yesterday.

It is the first time the country has recorded more than 3,000 new infections since September 19 when 3,012 cases were confirmed.

Moreover, the positivity rate has risen to 6.12 per cent.

The countrywide breakdown in the last 24 hours is as follows:

Sindh: 1,733 cases
Punjab: 919 cases, 1 death
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 64 cases, 3 deaths
Balochistan: 11 cases
Islamabad: 284 cases
Gilgit-Baltistan: 4 cases
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 4 cases, 1 death
 
Pakistan reports highest daily cases since Aug, up 20pc from day earlier

Pakistan has reported 4,286 new Covid-19 cases in the last hours, up 20 per cent from yesterday's 3,571 infections.

It is the highest daily caseload since August 28 when 4,467 cases were confirmed.

The countrywide positivity has also risen to 8.2 per cent.

The breakdown is as follows:

Sindh: 3,089 cases
Punjab: 722 cases, 2 deaths
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 104 cases, 1 death
Balochistan: 2 cases
Islamabad: 354 cases, 1 death
Gilgit-Baltistan: 2 cases
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 13 cases
 
Pakistan reports more than 4,000 Covid-19 infections for second straight day

Pakistan has reported more than 4,000 coronavirus cases for a second day in a row after 4,027 infections were recorded during the last 24 hours.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre, 51,236 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours while nine more deaths were also recorded.

The total number of cases has risen to 1,324,147 and the death toll is 29,012, while the positivity is 7.8 per cent.

Breakdown of deaths and cases reported:

Sindh: 2,677 cases, 1 death
Punjab: 853 cases, 1 death
Islamabad: 366 cases, 1 death
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 99 cases, 5 deaths
Balochistan: 15 cases
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 11 cases
Gilgit-Baltistan: 6 cases, 1 death
 
Pakistan reports more than 4,000 new cases for third straight day as positivity crosses 8.7pc

As the national positivity rate crossed 8.7 per cent, the country reported 4,340 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, up from 4,027 a day earlier.

The country's total caseload has risen to 1,328,487.

The nationwide breakdown is as follows:

Sindh: 2,670 cases, 3 deaths
Punjab: 1,131 cases, 2 deaths
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 112 cases, 2 deaths
Balochistan: 6 cases
Islamabad: 413 cases
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 8 cases
Gilgit-Baltistan has not confirmed any new cases or deaths.
 
Pakistan's new cases surpass 5,000-mark, highest since August

Pakistan has detected 5,034 new coronavirus cases, up 16 per cent from yesterday, and marking the highest daily caseload since August 8.

The country had recorded 5,661 infections on that date.

The country's positivity rate has risen to 9.5pc.

The countrywide breakdown is as follows:

Sindh: 3,430 cases, 6 deaths
Punjab: 980 cases, 1 death
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 108 cases, 3 deaths
Balochistan: 24 cases
Islamabad: 479 cases
Gilgit-Baltistan: 1 case
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 12 cases
 
This will be the last covid 19 surge the world will be facing, hopefully . There will be more variant in future but expected to be milder in virulence . I don't know the exact situation of vaccination status in the country but hopefully this variant will proved the herd immunity we need to get rid of covid infection for sometimes.
 
Pakistan reports highest number of daily Covid cases since Aug 4

Pakistan has reported 5,472 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, marking the highest daily caseload since August 4.

The country had recorded 5,661 infections on that date.

The country's positivity rate is 9.5pc.

The countrywide breakdown is as follows:

Sindh: 3,378 cases, 6 deaths
Punjab: 1,127 cases
Islamabad: 702 cases
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 200 cases, 2 deaths
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 41 cases
Balochistan: 15 cases
Gilgit-Baltistan: 9 cases
 
It’s sweeping through the big cities.

I would say for every one reported case there’s 4 more which were not reported.
 
<b>NCOC imposes restrictions on schools in cities with high Covid-19 ratio</b>

<I>The forum imposed ban on all indoor gatherings in cities with above 10% positivity ratio</I>

ISLAMABAD:The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) on Wednesday announced new restrictions in cities with an over 10% Covid-19 positivity ratio as the country battles the fifth wave of the deadly pandemic.

Pakistan has reported about 5,472 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the highest since August last year. According to the forum, the Covid-19 positivity ratio has reached 9.48 per cent.

A meeting of the NCOC, which serves as the nerve centre of the country's unified efforts to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, was held under the chairmanship of Planning Minister Asad Umar in Islamabad.

The current situation of the coronavirus across the country and the implementation of precautionary measures were reviewed.

New curbs on schools, gatherings and other sectors were decided during the meeting. These include new restrictions for the wedding sector till February 15.

A complete ban on indoor weddings has been imposed, while outdoors weddings have been restricted to 300 fully vaccinated individuals.

A ban on all types of indoor gatherings, including dine-in, has also been imposed, whereas outdoor dining and takeaway have been allowed.

Educational activities have also been limited in cities where the Covid-19 positivity rate was more than 10 per cent.

“Schools with students under 12 years of age will have 50% attendance with a three days per week schedule, whereas schools with students over 12 years of age will have 100% attendance,” the NCOC said, adding that vaccination is mandatory for all students above 12.

Indoor gyms will be allowed to operate on 50% capacity and cinemas, shrines, and parks will also be subject to 50% occupancy.

“All types of contact sports will be banned. Public transport has also been instructed to continue its work with a capacity of 70%,” the forum said.

Indoor gatherings, including weddings, of up to 300 people will be allowed in cities where Covid-19 positivity rate is 10%, while outdoor gatherings with a maximum limit of 500 guests have been permitted.

Gyms, dine-ins and parks will be open for fulling vaccinated individuals only.

The decision on changes in business and office hours was not made by the NCOC as of yet. The forum will meet again on January 27 to review the situation.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/233944...on-schools-in-cities-with-high-covid-19-ratio
 
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday warned that another wave of coronavirus had gripped the country but reiterated his stance against lockdown, saying that his government will not shut down the economy.

He said this while addressing a ceremony organised in Islamabad to launch a fresh policy for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector, laying special focus on promoting business through facilitation in registration, streamlining of taxes, access to credit and provision of land.

The country reported about 5,472 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the highest since August last year. According to the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the Covid-19 positivity ratio had reached 9.48 per cent.

The NCOC – the nerve centre of the government’s anti-pandemic strategy – earlier today announced new restrictions in cities with an over 10% Covid-19 positivity ratio as the country battles the fifth wave of the deadly pandemic.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2339475/govt-not-shutting-down-economy-despite-5th-covid-wave-pm-imran
 
With over 6,800 new infections, Pakistan reports second-highest cases since start of pandemic

Pakistan has detected 6,808 new infections in the last 24 hours, an increase of 19.6 per cent from yesterday, marking the second-highest daily caseload since the start of the pandemic in February.

The highest number of cases — 6,825 — were recorded on June 13.

The nationwide positivity rate has risen to 11.6pc.

The breakdown in the last 24 hours is as follows:

Sindh: 3,738 cases, 1 death
Punjab: 1,493 cases, 2 deaths
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 331 cases, 2 deaths
Balochistan: 36 cases
Islamabad: 1,131 cases
Gilgit-Baltistan: 6 cases
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 73 cases
 
Pakistan reports 7,678 Covid-19 cases, highest since start of pandemic
Pakistan has logged 7,678 new infections in the last 24 hours, the highest daily caseload since the start of the pandemic in February 2020.

Prior to this, the highest number of cases — 6,825 — were recorded on June 13.

Further, 23 deaths were also reported during the last 24 hours while the positivity rate rose to 12.9pc. The total number of cases has risen to 1,353,479 and the death toll is 29,065.

The breakdown in the last 24 hours is as follows:

Sindh: 3,828 cases, 17 deaths
Punjab: 1,887 cases, 3 deaths
Islamabad: 1,359 cases, 2 deaths
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 453 cases, 1 death
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 113 cases
Balochistan: 32 cases
Gilgit-Baltistan: 6 cases
 
Once again bhutto Sindh leads the way...if I'm not wrong the last two waves have started from sindh and have been mismanaged there..
 
Y6WbQT3.jpg
 
Pakistan reports it’s second highest daily increase in Coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours with 7,586 new cases

Positivity nationwide was 13% for the last 24 hours
 
The single day tally of fresh Covid cases fell below 6,000 for the first time in a week, yet the national positivity ratio continues to hover over 10%, the official data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed on Wednesday.


The NCOC, which serves as the nerve centre of the government’s synchronised strategy to contain the coronavirus spread, also reported that 15 Covid patients died during the past 24 hours, while nearly 1,500 recovered from the infectious disease.

The forum said that 5,196 more people tested positive for coronavirus during the last 24 hours. It added that the highest number of new cases, 1,790, was registered in Sindh, followed by 1,534 in Punjab and 854 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Most of the deaths, 7, also occurred in Sindh, it said.

The national positivity ratio was 10.17%, the NCOC said in its daily update, marking six straight days of more than 10% positivity rate. The number of active cases also rose to 86,124, including 1,293 patients in critical condition. The forum said 1,453 people recovered from the disease.

According to the official data, the highest positivity ratio of 41% was detected in Karachi, followed by 28% in Peshawar, 27% in Muzaffarabad and Hyderabad, 13% in Rawalpindi and Mardan, 11% in Lahore, Noshera, Islamabad and Abbottabad.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2340671/single-day-covid-tally-falls-below-6000
 
ISLAMABAD: The number of active positive cases of Covid-19 surpassed 90,000 on Thursday with 14 cities reporting 11 per cent positivity rate across the country. The data of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed that as many as 7,539 people were infected and the country reported 25 or more deaths after a gap of over 100 days.

Of 14 cities reporting over 11pc positivity rate of the deadly virus, six cities were located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two each in Sindh and Punjab and one each in Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Islamabad.

The highest positivity rate was in Peshawar with 35.89pc followed by Muzaffarabad with 28.6pc, Karachi, 26.32pc, Hyderabad, 22.41pc, Gilgit Baltistan, 21.43pc, Mardan, 20.93pc, Nowshera, 18.96pc, Islamabad, 16.76pc, Swabi 15.67pc, Abbottabad 15.35pc, Lahore, 15.25pc, Rawalpindi, 12.29pc, Bannu, 11.87pc and Quetta 11.32pc.

The NCOC reported 25 deaths in a single day on Thursday. Earlier, more than 25 deaths were reported on Oct 14 when 27 people died.

The number of active cases was 91,854 and 1,395 patients were admitted to hospitals across the country on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2022
 
During the last 24 hours, 64,016 tests were conducted out of which 7,978 came out positive. The nationwide coronavirus tally has now increased to 1,417,991. There are 1,455 critical cases.

During the last 24 hours, 29 people succumbed to the novel virus. The country's overall death toll has now increased to 29,248.

Moreover, 12,019 people recovered during the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 1,288,738.

Earlier this week, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) decided to extend curbs on schools until mid-February amid the surge in the Covid-19 cases.

As per the NCOC, in the cities and districts with less than 10 percent Covid-19 positivity, the schools will remain open. Schools will be opened for the vaccinated students with the age group of more than 12 years old.

However, in the cities where the percentage of Covid-19 cases is over 10 percent, students will be allowed in schools on alternative days. Half of the students with the age group of less than 12 will be allowed in schools each day.

Moreover, in cities with corona positivity of over 10 percent, only over 12 years of age students will be allowed in schools. Educational institutions will have to take all the possible steps to ensure the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

https://www.brecorder.com/news/4015...500-covid-19-cases-for-fourth-consecutive-day
 
In USA, cases are dropping sharply , not just in NE but all over, hopefully wave in Pakistan will also be a short one .
 
Pakistan reports more than 7,000 new cases for fifth straight day

Pakistan has reported 7,048 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, down from 7,978 a day earlier.

The national positivity rate stands at 11.5 per cent.

The countrywide breakdown of infections is as follows:

Sindh: 1,670
Punjab: 2,107
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,647
Balochistan: 48
Islamabad: 1,024
Gilgit-Baltistan: 9
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 543
 
Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Tuesday announced the start of a two-week-long home vaccination campaign that aims to administer over 35 million coronavirus vaccine shots as the fifth wave of the pandemic continues across the country.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, Umar said: "The NCOC (National Command and Operation Centre) has prepared for a massive campaign which is about to start in all areas of the country. Over 55,000 mobile teams will go and carry out vaccinations at homes," he said, adding that the campaign's first phase would start from today and run for two weeks.

A target has been set to administer more than 35m vaccine doses, he said, acknowledging that it was a "huge target" but necessary preparations have been carried out such as training of the mobile teams and ensuring vaccine supplies.

Explaining the reasons behind the campaign, Umar, who also heads the NCOC, said it was found that areas with higher vaccination rates were more protected from the dangerous effects of Covid-19, with vaccinated people showing mild symptoms.

Providing updates on the country's vaccination progress so far, Umar said around 80m people were completely vaccinated and over 10m people had received one dose. He added that more and more people were also readily getting booster doses and urged people to either get their second dose or a booster dose if eligible.

SAPM Sultan also said that initially the government had said people could get a booster shot but now it was a definite recommendation due to the available scientific evidence. He stressed that vaccination was the only way to escape the restrictions of the last two years and protect one's health from serious Covid complications.

The SAPM urged people to cooperate with the mobile vaccination teams and welcome them.

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Health Dr Azra Pechuho shared details of the vaccination campaign in the province. Sharing a video of the minister on Twitter, the provincial health department said the purpose behind the campaign was to "reach remote regions as well as to help those who cannot access vaccination facilities otherwise".

"If you cooperate with us then we will get liberated from the Covid pandemic because even now unvaccinated people are being admitted in hospitals and their health worsens," Pechuho said.

The announcements come amid a period of sustained elevated daily Covid counts. Pakistan reported more than 7,000 cases of Covid-19 for the fifth consecutive day on Monday while the national positivity rate averaged 11.53 per cent.

Pakistan also recorded its highest-ever Covid cases in 24 hours — 8,183 — on January 29. In comparison, the first year of the Covid-19 outbreak in Pakistan had seen the highest number at 6,825 people infected with the virus in a single day on June 13, 2020.

According to a document available with Dawn, the positivity rate was recorded at over 10pc in 12 cities — Karachi, Hyderabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Mirpur, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Islamabad, Quetta and Muzaffarabad.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), a representative body of the medical fraternity, expressed concern over the consistently high positivity ratio of Covid-19 across the country.

The medical association also requested the government to strictly implement the SOPs across the country. "We also request the public to adopt preventive measures, wear masks whenever you go out, keep social distance, wash or sanitise your hands with proper intervals, avoid shaking hands and hugging and avoid going out unnecessarily," it said.


https://www.dawn.com/news/1672682/m...nation-campaign-to-start-from-today-asad-umar
 
The National Command and Operation Centre’s (NCOC) on Monday decided to abolish Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) for inbound passengers from February 8.

During a session of the country's nerve centre of Covid-19 response, it was decided to abolish the tests except for deportees from foreign countries and for non-vaccinated individuals arriving from land border terminals.

The forum, chaired by Planning Minister Asad Umar, discussed epidemic data, national vaccination progress, inbound health protocols and the second phase of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) tournament.

For PSL, the NCOC allowed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to conduct the matches in Lahore with 50 per cent stadium capacity for fully vaccinated spectators till February 15.

However, from February 16 onwards, the PCB has been allowed to conduct matches with 100 per cent capacity, provided all spectators are vaccinated.

Pakistan reported 38 Covid-19 related deaths and 3,338 positive cases during the last 24 hour period.

According to statistics issued by the NCOC, 44,779 tests were conducted while the positivity ratio was at 7.45 per cent. It added that about 1,684 Covid-19 patients are still in critical condition.

On Sunday, Umar hailed the door-to-door Covid-19 immunisation drive saying that the country had registered the highest daily vaccination records during the past three days in a row.

Earlier this month, the government had stepped up the ongoing anti-coronavirus vaccine campaign by taking it door-to-door amid a surge in coronavirus cases fuelled by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

The NCOC had announced a two-week door-to-door vaccination campaign titled ‘Every Pakistani Safe from Coronavirus’ to rid the nation of Covid-19.

The February 1-14 vaccine campaign would cover all people above the age of 12 years.
 
Pakistan has decided to start COVID-19 screening tests for the inbound flights from the Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia after identifying the new sub-variant of Omicron.

The screening process through the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) will come into effect on May 14 at 12:01am in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore airports.

Initially, 10 to 15 passengers travelling via small aircraft, carrying up to 150 passengers, will undergo the tests. Meanwhile, planes with a capacity of 250 passengers will test 15 to 20 passengers.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the National Institution of Health's Centre for Disease Control (CDC) are implementing these measures following the directives of the health minister. These will remain in effect until further notice by the CDC.

GEO
 
Punjab hospitals ordered to ensure testing as COVID-19 rears head globally

The hospitals and medical facilities in Punjab have been directed to enhance testing for COVID-19 amid the reports of a surge in cases across the globe.

A significant rise in cases of a variant of the pandemic disease has recently been reported, giving rise to the risk of spread.

"I am directed to refer to the subject cited above and to state that according of media reports, a surge in COVID-19 cases is once again being reported in various parts of the world," an official of the Punjab health department said in a statement.

It stated that COVID-19 testing is the only tool to assess the magnitude of the disease and to curtail the transmission of this deadly disease.

The statement directed all the authorities concerned to comply with the orders in true letter and spirit.

The directives come days after the reports of a 52% rise in COVID-19 cases globally during a 28-day period, starting from November 20 to December 17, 2023, as compared to the previous 28-day period, with over 850,000 new cases reported.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on December 24 issued a new COVID-19 epidemiological update on the global and regional situation, with information on hospitalisations and ICU admissions, and updates on the variants of Interest and variants under monitoring.

Later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that the new COVID-19 variant, JN.1, now accounts for 44.1% of cases in the United States, indicating a significant increase in the fast-spreading variant's prevalence.

The increase in JN.1 infections is more than two times larger than the 21.3% estimate for the week ending December 9, after Thanksgiving, CBS News reported, citing CDC’s findings.

Source : The News International
 
Individuals in Pakistan falling ill due to influenza, not COVID-19, says NIH

The National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad has clarified that a strain of influenza virus is responsible for causing severe respiratory illness in adults throughout Pakistan, not COVID-19.

The health institute disclosed that the H3N2 sub-type of Influenza-A virus is contributing to the increasing number of influenza-like illness (ILI) cases reported daily across the country. Meanwhile, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is identified as the cause of illness among children nationwide, as emphasized by NIH officials. They strongly urged the public to adopt precautionary measures, including proper coughing etiquette, to safeguard against respiratory illnesses.

Contrary to popular belief associating respiratory illnesses with COVID-19, a senior official revealed, “No, it is not COVID-19 that is causing sickness in Pakistan currently. Our surveillance and testing indicate that it is the H3N2 sub-type of Influenza-A responsible for illnesses in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, numerous cities in Sindh, and most of Punjab these days.”

Source : Daily Times
 
Health ministry ‘fully alert’ as 15 cases of JN.1 Covid variant confirmed countrywide

The National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) has confirmed 15 cases of Covid-19’s JN.1 variant, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

Sajid Shah, the health ministry’s spokesperson, quoted caretaker Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan as saying that the situation was “being monitored strictly, with border health services, national and provincial health authorities, and labs fully functional and alert”.

Classified as a variant of interest (VOI) by the World Health Organisation (WHO), JN.1 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant and is more transmissible than other circulating variants. It has spread to over 40 countries.

The spokesperson further quoted Dr Jan as stating that an “effective screening system” was in place at all entry and exit points of international airports in the country.

Among the 15 reported cases, eight were detected by the lab at the NIH, five by Karachi’s Aga Khan University Hospital and two by Karachi’s Dow University of Health Sciences, Shah said.

The health minister was quoted as saying that the ministry was monitoring the situation on a special basis and was ensuring that all necessary steps were being taken to protect the public from the new variant. The federal government was in contact with its provincial counterparts, he added.

Measures against new variant

To prevent the spread of JN.1, the same strategies as those to prevent Covid-19 are advised, such as social distancing, wearing masks, proper sanitation and hygiene.

The NIH and the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) have issued advisories regarding the new sub-variant to ensure timely preventive and control measures.

As per the NIH advisory, JN.1 has been classified by the WHO as a VOI with genetic changes predicted or known to affect virus characteristics such as transmissibility, disease severity, immune escape, and diagnostic or therapeutic escape.

NIH officials said the advisory has been issued to alert and facilitate the health authorities and other stakeholders for timely preventive and control measures and ensure preparedness to deal with increased patient influx during the next few weeks.

Screening at the international borders had been increased at the beginning of January while the federal government has also decided to procure 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

Sindh’s health department has planned to set up a task force soon to tackle the emerging threat from JN.1 while Peshawar’s district health authorities have been directed to enhance screening of influenza-like illnesses and random testing for Covid-19.
​
SOURCE: DAWN
 
Sindh sets up task force to deal with new Covid variant threat

KARACHI: With two more air travellers tested positive for Covid, the Sindh government on Tuesday formed a task force to tackle the emerging threat from JN.1, the highly contagious new variant of Covid-19.

Speaking at a press conference, caretaker Sindh Health Minister Dr Saad Khalid Niaz announced the task force and said that it would be headed by Health Director General Dr Waqar Mahmood with Dr Faisal Mahmood as its co-chairman.

He said that the provincial government had set up special wards at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital & Research Centre to treat infected patients.

He said that the health government was taking measures to arrange more space in other public health facilities to meet any emerging challenge.

“Compared to other variants that we witnessed in the past, the new variant is not that strong,” the health minister said, adding: “But we are closely monitoring the situation and setting up the task force to prepare a strategy.

He said that the people should take precautionary measures and those who were experiencing flu-like symptoms should avoid going into public or congested places.

According to a notification, other members of the task force are Dr Saqib Sheikh, Dr Muhammad Asif, one representative each from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Expanded Programme on Immunisation, WHO’s Dr Sara Salman, Dr Muniba Ahsan Syed, Osama Khalid of Ziauddin University and Shabbir Ali as focal person for media.

The task force will directly report to the health minister and provide technical support to the health department.

It would also develop an emergency response plan outlining specific actions to be taken in the event of a surge in Covid cases and set up mechanisms for monitoring to ensure effective implementation of Covid prevention and control measures.

The taskforce, it said, would establish communication protocols for disseminating information to the public and other stakeholders.

It would also foster collaboration and coordination with other provinces, national authorities, NGOs, and international partners to share resources, expertise, and best practices.

Also on Tuesday, the Sindh health department said that two male passengers —28-year-old resident of Faisalabad and 25-year-old resident of Malakand —arrived at the Karachi airport from Jeddah tested positive for Covid.

“Their Rapid Antigen Test was positive, which means both of them are infected with coronavirus,” said the health department.

It said they left for their homes after being advised to self-quarantine. Their blood samples for detecting the variant they suffered from had been sent to for a detailed analysis to a Dow University of Health Sciences’ laboratory.

It said that a day earlier samples of four more air travellers were collected and sent to a laboratory for a PCR test and all of them tested positive for Covid.

Recently, two air travellers, who were found to have Covid during screening at the Jinnah International Airport, had tested positive for JN.1 variant.

Later, the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) had confirmed five locally transmitted cases of JN.1.
​
SOURCE: DAWN
 
Karachi faces new wave of COVID-19 infections

According to Professor Saeed Khan, an expert in infectious diseases at Dow Hospital, there has been an increase in the number of people suffering from cold, cough, and fever in the city. After testing, 25 to 30 percent of these patients are confirmed to have COVID-19.

Professor Khan further stated that 10 to 12 percent of patients are being diagnosed with Influenza H1N1, while 5 to 10 percent of children are showing signs of respiratory infections.

He explained that the symptoms of COVID-19, Influenza H1N1, and other winter viral infections are similar, which leads many patients to avoid getting tested, thereby preventing the confirmation of these diseases.

At Dow Hospital, a significant number of patients with cold, cough, and fever symptoms have tested positive for COVID-19. The hospital has reported that the number of patients with difficulty in breathing and other respiratory issues is also increasing.

The symptoms of these viral infections often overlap, with the loss of taste and smell being one of the distinguishing symptoms of COVID-19. The rapid spread of these diseases is typical during winter, with poor ventilation contributing to the spread of viruses.

Experts are urging the public to take necessary precautions, including wearing masks and staying covered. They also recommend getting the annual influenza vaccine to protect against viral infections.

arynews.tv

Karachi faces new wave of COVID-19 infections

KARACHI: The port city has started to see a rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, with 25 to 30 percent of patients presenting with symptoms of cold and
arynews.tv arynews.tv
 
Health Minister denies Covid cases upsurge in Karachi

“Don’t afraid, corona disease is not spreading in Karachi,” the health minister said. “Coronavirus has vanished across the world,” Pechuho said.

Health minister also asked to avoid sensationalism with fake news.

“As a precaution, common cold patients’ tests conducted and mild symptoms were detected in seven out of 100 patients,” minister said.

“Corona has become like seasonal cold across the world, so there is nothing to be worried,” she advised citizens.

Recently, reports revealed that Karachi has started to see a rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, with 25 to 30 percent of patients presenting with symptoms of cold and cough testing positive for the virus.

According to Professor Saeed Khan, an expert in infectious diseases at Dow Hospital, there has been an increase in the number of people suffering from cold, cough, and fever in the city. After testing, 25 to 30 percent of these patients are confirmed to have COVID-19.

Professor Khan further stated that 10 to 12 percent of patients are being diagnosed with Influenza H1N1, while 5 to 10 percent of children are showing signs of respiratory infections.

He explained that the symptoms of COVID-19, Influenza H1N1, and other winter viral infections are similar, which leads many patients to avoid getting tested, thereby preventing the confirmation of these diseases.

arynews.tv

Health Minister denies Covid cases upsurge in Karachi

KARACHI: Sindh's Health Minister Azra Pechuho has refuted reports with regard to an upsurge in Covid cases in Karachi, ARY News reported on Monday. "Don't
arynews.tv arynews.tv
 
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