KARACHI
Pakistan has reported the first suspected case of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron in Karachi.
Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra Pechuho said in a video statement on Thursday that a genomic study is being conducted which will confirm the exact variant but for now getting both doses of the vaccine is the best precaution. “We have not yet conducted a genomic study but the way the virus is behaving, it seems likely that it is the Omicron variant,” she said.
Separately, the health department disclosed that the 57-year-old patient, with no travel history, is currently isolating at home, adding that efforts are underway to conduct contact tracing to confirm whether there are more infections or not.
The patient was unvaccinated and had no Covid-19 symptoms. Deputy commissioner East Karachi has been asked to impose a micro smart lockdown in the area.
“Four persons were tested to confirm Omicron presence out of which results of two returned positive while the report of one patient is awaited,” the statement said.
The health official added that two of them have been sent home while the rest are still hospitalised. Only one person out of these four tested had been vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has clarified that the sample is not yet confirmed to be Omicron via whole genome sequencing. The NIH will obtain the sample for further testing.
Meanwhile, Sindh Parliamentary Health Secretary Qasim Siraj Soomro said that it is imminent that Omicron would reach Pakistan as flights continue.
“At the international level, several PCR tests were not positive in patients who were later diagnosed with Omicron infection. The new virus is highly mutated,” he added. He further said that the PCR kits are focused on the Delta variant.
The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) has already taken measures to control the spread of the Omicron variant in the country and announced a massive vaccination plan that started from December 1. In a meeting of the NCOC held earlier this month, it was decided to inoculate booster shots to immunocompromised people, healthcare workers and those aged over 50 years.
The forum had also tightened travel restrictions banning passengers from 15 countries including southern African nations and making Covid-19 testing and vaccination for inbound travellers from Category B countries.
It was also emphasised during the NCOC meeting that the Omicron variant is spreading fast across the globe and the only protection against it is vaccination and following basic SOPs, including the wearing of face masks, practising social distancing and washing hands.
