At least 35 cases of Covid-19's Delta variant detected in Karachi since June

Individuals who were infected with the variant showed extreme symptoms of Covid, says Dr Azra Pechuho

KARACHI:

At least 35 cases of Cvoid-19's Delta variant, earlier referred to as the Indian variant, have surfaced in Karachi since the month of June, the Sindh Health Department confirmed on Tuesday.

"From June till now, 35 verified cases of the Delta variant have been found in selected covid positive samples. The individuals who were carrying this variant showed extreme symptoms of covid," said Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra Pechuho.

She further added that a family of five in Lyari tested positive for the Delta variant and one of them is under treatment currently.

"During this month, there have been 18 cases of the Delta variant in Karachi," she said.

"All are advised to restrict their movement unless necessary and to strictly follow all SOPs in order to curb the spread of this infection."

Pechuho further advised the masses to wear a mask when outdoors or in public places as she said the world saw the effects of the Delta variant in India. "Citizens must exercise caution and act responsibly". she urged.

Earlier it was reported that about 16 cases of the Indian Covid variant surfaced in Balochistan as coronavirus cases continued to rise.

“Eleven cases of the virus are reported from Quetta, while five from Turbat,” said Balochistan Health Secretary Aziz Jamali on July 12 while addressing a press conference at the Quetta Press Club. Jamali said people from the Middle East and Karachi regularly visited Makran Division which led to fears that the Delta variant had spread in the provincial capital of Sindh.

“We have to initiate decisions and strictly implement precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus further,” he said, adding the testing procedure for Covid was being improved as people were infected rapidly in the Makran Division of Balochistan.

He had added that the Balochistan Health Department had sent 21 specimens for Covid testing to the National Institute of Health out of which 16 cases were diagnosed as Delta variant.