The world is slowly reeling through the drastic effects of Covid-19 but the virus is nowhere to be gone forever as it’s another variant Omicron has set foot in Pakistan.
Sindh Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuho said the country has detected its first ‘suspected’ case of the Omicron variant in Karachi.
Karachi (08-12-21): Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Sindh, Dr. @AzraPechuho's statement on the suspected case of Omicron. A genomic study is being conducted which will confirm the exact variant but for now getting both doses of the vaccine is the best precaution. pic.twitter.com/24wi7MwXlR
— Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) December 9, 2021
She explained that the virus’ genome sequencing has not been done as of yet but the government suspects the case to be the Omicron variant because of its behaviour. She said the suspected Omicron-hit patient is a 57-year old woman from the financial capital.
Pechuho said this variant spreads at a rapid pace but some reports from South Africa lately show that it does not cause severe illness or a high number of deaths.
Confirming the case, a spokesman of the city’s private Aga Khan University Hospital said one suspected patient of the variant has been brought to the hospital. He said the hospital administration is waiting for the results. He added that the patient has already been discharged from the hospital. The hospital’s present coronavirus prevention and management protocols are sufficient for the treatment of the virus.
Important Message from NIH Islamabad
This is in response to media reports of a suspected case of Omicron variant being reported from Karachi. To clarify, the sample is not yet confirmed to be Omicron via whole genome sequencing, which is to be performed after obtaining the sample— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) December 9, 2021
Earlier, the National Command and Operations Centre declared travel curbs in the wake of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, adding 8 more countries, mostly European, in category-C, banning in-bound travelers.
