ISLAMABAD: Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar warned that Omicron will eventually be reported in the country and said that quick actions were needed to be taken.
“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. This variant will come to Pakistan, and we have next 2-3 weeks to reduce its threat,” said Umar.
According to the information shared by Umar, vaccination is useful and plays an effective role against the new Covid variant.
Sindh had earlier announced to provide Pfizer booster shots to minimise the effect and transmission of possible forthcoming Omicron variant.
“The decision has been taken but the department is yet to make required arrangements for this purpose and announce a date for its launch,” said a representative from the health authority.
Health authorities have urged citizens to continue wearing mask, get vaccinated and isolate themselves should they feel any symptoms. Earlier, Pakistan placed South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho, and Hong Kong in the C category, placing a travel ban on these countries.
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has also shared the stats for Covid in the last 24 hours in the country. The authorities conducted 29,530 tests, of which 176 tested positive, bringing the positivity ratio down to 0.59 per cent.
Punjab reported 64 cases followed by Sindh with 37 cases, Islamabad with 35 cases and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reporting 33 positive cases. Azad & Jammu Kashmir reported seven Covid positive cases. Nine patients lost their lives while battling the virus, and 923 remain in critical condition.
