Omicron accounts for 50% cases detected in Sindh

Fifth wave of Covid-19 pandemic confirmed in Karachi Our Correspondent

KARACHI:

The Sindh Task Force on Coronavirus on Monday confirmed that the fifth wave of novel-coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has reached Karachi with predominant Omicron variant of the viral disease.

The Sindh government, to ascertain prevalence of Omicron in the province conducted 351 tests of which 175 were detected as Omicron which constitutes 50 per cent of the tests beside delta and other variants. 

This emerged in a meeting held under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at CM House on Monday. 

The meeting was attended by Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, La Adviser Murtaza Wahab, Parliamentary Secretary on Health Qasim Soomro, Acting Chief Secretary Qazi Shahid Pervez, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Secretary Health Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Dr Ari of Indus Hospital and other officers concerned.

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The meeting was told that 351 samples were tested to ascertain the existence of Omicron variant in the province against which 175 cases of Omicron were detected. It was also pointed out that out of 175 few had travel history predominantly from the UK, Dubai, USA, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Nairobi and Angola. 

It was pointed out that during the last 30 days from December 3 to January 2, the Covid positivity rate has started increasing conforming the advent of fifth wave of the pandemic. Officials said that on December 3, at least 261 new cases were detected which kept on showing an upward trend and finally on January 2 the daily count reached 403. 

At this the chief minister said that the situation was critical and urged the health department to start an extensive vaccination drive and increase tests of the people all over Sindh. 

He urged people of the province to adopt precautionary measures, otherwise his government would have to take strict measures. 

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The meeting was told that from December 4 to Jan 1, at least 51 patients died, of them 40 (78%) were on ventilators, six (12%) were off the ventilators, and five (10%) at home. 

To a question, the CM was told that so far 29.579 people have been administered vaccine all over Sindh. 

Separately, a daily situation report issued by the Chief Minister's Office stated that the province had reported 339 new coronavirus cases and no deaths stemming from the virus over the past 24 hours.

It said the province's infection tally had risen to 481,949 and the death toll stood at 7,673.