The country is now in the grip of a fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The best protection from the Omicron variant is to practise precautions prescribed by medical experts. Follow preventive measures and stay safe. The federal and provincial governments are taking steps to protect people from the fast spreading Omicron variant of the unusual coronavirus. The NCOC, in consultation with the provincial governments, have made non-pharma Interventions mandatory for people in view of the alarming rise in the incidence of the Omicron mutation of Covid-19.
Authorities have made wearing of face masks in public places mandatory and advised people to take other precautionary measures like avoiding crowded places and physical contact with others. Unfortunately though, people generally seem to be immune to the precautionary measures even when the national positivity rate of the dreaded virus has been recorded at above 10%. Things have become alarming in Karachi where the infestation rate has been documented as high as 40% and continuing to shoot up. Recently in the city, a senior physician has died of Covid-19, and 500 health workers in Sindh are being treated for the illness.
The Omicron variant transmits several times faster than the Delta and earlier mutation of Covid-19. Omicron can even affect the vaccinated. So far government educational institutions have not been shut down. There are media reports that at least one private school in Karachi has announced partial suspension of classes and restricted admittance to only vaccinated students and teachers. News is also circulating that in Hyderabad city, private schools and colleges have been shut down or their management intends to do so due to the intensity of the fifth wave of coronavirus.
The Sindh government has so far imposed micro-lockdowns in a few blocks of a locality for a short duration after a fairly large number of people were detected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19. The fifth wave of the pandemic needs to be tackled with a multi-pronged strategy basically aimed at saving both lives and livelihoods.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 18th, 2022.
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