There have been multiple reports of the presence of new covid variant in the country, however, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has denied all reports and termed them misleading.
“No cases of a new variant of Covid have been reported,” the NIH official said while adding that all “arrangements have been completed to combat the new variant” should a case emerge.
Lifting of the lockdown in China and free travelling have increased the risk of a new Covid variant entering Pakistan.
Reports suggest the coronavirus strain spreading in China is a sub-variant of the highly infectious Omicron variant: BF.7 or BA.5.2.1.7.
Meanwhile, at least six Karachi residents were confirmed to be infected by the XBB and XBB.1 Omicron variants of Covid-19.
According to the details, the sequencing was done by Agha Khan Hospital — one of the major private health facilities of the provincial capital.
The health department also revealed that the confirmed cases had been detected in residents of Defence Housing Authority, Shadman Homes and Tariq Road.
In the wake of threat posed by the new BF.7 Omicron variant of Covid-19, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday instructed National Institute of Health (NIH) to issue precautionary advisories for educational institutes, social gatherings and conduct weekly media briefings.
In a related development, vaccination and screening test of pedestrians has been started at Torkham border on a daily basis, officials said.
The decisions were taken at a review session, which was presided over by NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, held with a team of NIH and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Covid-19 situation and surveillance mechanisms at airports in the wake of the threat posed by the new variant of Covid-19.
The situation might get worst if the strong and concrete steps are not taken in the wake of BF.7 Omicron variant of the Coronavirus.
