Karachi reports six Omicron cases

At least six people were tested positive for the XBB and XBB.1 Omicron variants of coronavirus in Karachi, taking the tally of Omicron cases across the country to 29 within a week, according to the Sindh health department and the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Tuesday.

The report of new cases came as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in the country in Islamabad, and directed the authorities concerned to ensure the vaccination of children aged 5-12 years on an urgent basis.

The Sindh health department said in a notification on December 28 that the six Karachiites, who were infected with the XBB and XBB.1 variants were the residents of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Shadman Homes and Tariq Road. “All patients are in stable condition,” a spokesperson told The Express Tribune.

The notification said that the patients had no “travel history of China” and that the Omicron variant wound in them had no “linkage with recently-detected China variant BF.7”. In Islamabad, the NIH also said that there was no case of a more contagious BF.7 variant in the country.

NIH Executive Director Aamer Ikram stressed that “arrangements have been completed to combat the new variant” should a case emerge. The NIH also said that 29 cases of the XBB variant of Omicron had been detected in Pakistan but stressed that it was not “a point of concern”.

Reports suggest that the new coronavirus strain, spreading in China, is a subvariant of the highly infectious Omicron variant: BF.7 or BA.5.2.1.7. Lifting of the lockdown in China and free travelling have increased the risk of the new variant entering Pakistan.

Meanwhile, chairing the review meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz expressing satisfaction that the Covid-19 situation was under control in Pakistan but directed the authorities concerned to ensure the vaccination of children aged 5-12 years on an urgent basis.

He instructed for further improving screening at the border points as well as airports. “It is pleasing that no Covid-related death has been reported from across the country in the last 15 weeks. The decline in the Covid infection ratio is also pleasing but “we have to be alert all the time,” the prime minister stressed.

“The nation is thankful to the countries, which donated vaccines to Pakistan,” he added. The participants of the meeting were informed that Pakistan was among the very few countries where genomic surveillance of Covid had been introduced to ensure early detection of the new variants.