As Covid-19 cases resurfaced across Pakistan, the positivity rate in the country’s financial capital Karachi reached alarming levels, coming in at 21.23 per cent on Thursday.
National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) data showed that 53 people tested positive for the virus in the metropolis on June 16. However, the number of cases more than doubled within a week, as 138 people tested positive in the city on June 22 (Wednesday).
According to the NCOC, Karachi has reported the highest number of Covid cases from across the country, while Abbottabad reported the second highest number of cases with 8.7 per cent positivity. Other cities that have reported infection rates of more than 2 per cent include Islamabad, Peshawar, Faisalabad and Mirpur in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Overall, the country detected 268 new Covid cases – marking the second day of over 200 daily cases – on Thursday and the nationwide positivity rate stood at 2.14pc. One person lost his life due to this virus in the last 24 hours.
NCOC meeting
a brown NCOC meeting Yesterday, it was noted that 85 percent of the eligible population had been fully vaccinated and 93 percent had been partially vaccinated. In addition, 100 percent of the eligible population in Sindh was fully vaccinated.
In a meeting chaired by Abdul Qadir Patel, Federal Minister of the National Health Service (NHS) in Islamabad, all provinces and territories were advised to give booster doses on a priority basis to further improve protection against COVID transmission.
“In view of the global pandemic situation, the Central Health Establishment (CHE) should strictly monitor the health condition of the passengers arriving at the points of entry. CHE will be strengthened to increase the efficiency,” Patel said.
CHE monitors health-related developments within and outside the country and issues advisories and takes steps to prevent the spread of diseases.
The Minister emphasized the importance of social distancing and precautions like wearing of masks, especially in crowded places. He also highlighted the need to strictly follow the guidelines for the management of markets for Eid-ul-Adha.
fear of the sixth wave
talking to dawn Prior to this, Dr Saeed Khan was Professor of Molecular Pathology, Head of the Sindh Public Health Lab at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS). Told A new version – BA.5 – was spreading rapidly to other countries in Pakistan, including Karachi, and was now being broadcast locally.
“while other [old] The subtype of Omicron is also being reported in Karachi, it is more contagious as it is a new one and has been a cause of concern in other parts of the world,” he said, adding that unvaccinated, elderly and people with compromised immunity are particularly vulnerable. Were.
“If we don’t heed the medical advice and start implementing preventive measures related to COVID seriously, the spike in cases could turn into a sixth wave of coronavirus,” he said.
According to Dr Khan, there are several reasons behind the rapid spread of the variant. “They are genetically distinct, which helps them to transmit faster. Other reasons include decreased immunity to the vaccine after six months, the general public’s reluctance to get a booster shot, and COVID-19 preventive measures in public places. includes the absence of