10 cases of Omicron detected in Pindi

Fast-spreading Covid-19 variant grips garrison city

RAWALPINDI:

The fifth wave of Covid-19 is picking up pace in the garrison city, and so is the Omicron variant, with six more confirmed cases of the strain in Rawalpindi on Saturday taking the number of positive cases to 10.

The positivity ratio has increased from less than one per cent to 7.58 per cent in a matter of weeks, while the total number of Covid-19 cases has increased to 114 during the last 24 hours.

The Omicron cases were reported in Shalley Valley, Range Road, Al-Noor Colony Western, Khayabane Sir Syed, Dhoke Syedan and Chaklala Scheme 3 of Rawalpindi.

District Health Authority Focal Person Dr Waqar Ahmed confirmed that the 10 Omicron patients are isolating at home and are said to be in a stable condition. He said that another 40 samples have been sent to the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital for confirmation of the new variant.

Read How dangerous is Omicron?

During the last 24 hours, 1,504 tests were conducted for Covid-19, of which 114 came out positive. So far, 1,226 Covid patients have lost their lives across the Rawalpindi district, while 490 patients are quarantined at home.

The number of citizens discharged from hospitals after recovering has reached 35,352. So far, 4,753,825 citizens have been vaccinated against the pandemic in Rawalpindi district, including 44,562 health workers.

The number of Covid-positive cases in six hospitals across the district is 40, of which four are in critical condition, nine are stable and 27 are on additional oxygen.

The District Health Authority is administering booster corornavirus shots to citizens aged 18 years and above at their doorsteps, while the non-vaccinated citizens are receiving their first and second jabs at their doorstep as well as from the allocated centres.

Dr Waqar further added that World Health Organisation (WHO) had provided RT-PCR kits to the District Health Authority to detect the new Omicron variant and other variants of COVID-19 reported so far.

He said that free-of-cost Omicron testing was available at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital, as timely and reliable testing was crucial to control and manage the emerging variant.

He urged those residents who are yet to be jabbed to get vaccinated against the fast-spreading disease at the earliest, adding that vaccination was the only way to defeat it.

CAA bans in-flight meals

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has placed a complete ban on serving snacks and meals in all domestic flights from January 17.

The decision has been taken to contain the new wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic, accelerated by the Omicron variant.

The CAA air transport department said in a notification that ban will take effect from January 17, 2022.

According to CAA officials, the authority has issued a new advisory on Covid-19, according to which a ban has been imposed on serving food and snacks on all domestic flights. All airlines and agencies have been directed to ensure compliance with the notification.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2022.