Pakistan

Sindh Omicron cases reach 307 after 30 new infections surface

Sindh CM urges people to comply with SOPs to prevent Covid's spread

Hafeez Tunio January 07, 2022

A man receives a dose of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a market in Karachi, Pakistan, December 16, 2021. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

KARACHI:

The number of Omicron cases in Sindh has reached 307 after 30 more people tested positive for the highly-contagious variant of coronavirus between January 3 and January 5, said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday.

In a statement, the Sindh CM said that out of 37 samples taken, at least 30 individuals tested positive for Omicron - 81 per cent of the total tests. Along with 630 new cases, the Omicron infections have reached 307 in the province, he added.

CM Murad urged people to take precautions in the wake of the spread of the virus. People should observe social distancing protocols, wear face masks in markets, offices and other public spaces, he implored.

The CM also stressed on the regular use of sanitisers, saying the only way to avoid contracting the virus is compliance with the SOPs.

On Wednesday, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) warned that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was spreading rapidly in Pakistan and feared that it would spread even more quickly in the days to come.

Pakistan has reported over 1,000 new Covid cases for a second consecutive day, the highest single-day tally of new cases in nearly three months.

Read Omicron feared to loom within mosques

In Pakistan, the NCOC chief said that 60% of the cases were reported from two major cities – Karachi and Lahore. "During the last two weeks, they surged by 984% in Karachi alone," he had said.

“The spread ratio in Punjab is recorded at 190% in one week. ”Planning Minister Asad Umar, the NCOC chief, had told a media briefing along with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan. The vaccination and compliance with the anti-virus SOPs were the only way to avoid the spread of the new variant, he had added.

Fake notification

Separately, a notification regarding the new anti-virus restrictions making rounds on social media has been termed as fake by the Sindh government.

The fake notification dated January 7 had claimed closure of educational institutions till January 31, along with a ban on social gatherings across the province in the wake of the resurgence of the virus.