KARACHI:
The new year began with a resurgence in the number of Covid cases and this time it is the Omicron variant that is wreaking havoc across the globe. Global health experts have suggested that Omicron is not as dangerous as Delta, however, it is spreading much faster amongst people. Symptoms of Omicron are said to be milder as it is less likely to cause loss of taste and smell, which is concerning because most people are unable to identify their infectiousness early on. Other symptoms such as dry cough and muscle pain are similar to previous variants. Given the changing weather, cold and flu are already on the rise. Therefore, people should continue taking all precautionary measures such as wearing masks and social distancing in crowded gatherings. We must all act responsibly during this time because most people will not be able to survive another lockdown as it will put a severe financial strain on them.
One of the reasons for the surge in Omicron cases is the absence of travel bans because the first few cases in the country were reported amongst people who had recently travelled from abroad. The government should temporarily restrict travel to and from countries where there is a surge in cases. Also, many unvaccinated individuals have been infected with the new variant, which reinforces the need to get vaccinated. The government should speed up its efforts in ensuring maximum vaccination rates to slow down the rise in the cases. We all need to cooperate and follow the standard operating procedures to avoid contracting the virus.
Shahzaib Javed
Turbat
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2022.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
