LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, a spokesperson for the provincial health department confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the spokesperson, the health minister was isolated at home. “Yasmin Rashid got herself tested after her son tested positive upon his arrival in the United States (US), the spokesperson added.
The spokesman added Dr Rashid attended a meeting regarding dengue today, where the province’s chief secretary was also in attendance. “All the participants of the meeting have been asked to get themselves tested,” he added.
The fifth wave of COVID-19, which is driven by the Omicron variant, is spreading at a great pace in the country. As many as 62 more people have tested positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in Lahore, the provincial health department said.
The number of confirmed cases of Omicron in Punjab has climbed to 117, including 112 in the provincial capital alone. As of January 3, Pakistan recorded 372 cases of the Omicron variant, as per the data of the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination.
The country confirmed its first case of the highly-transmissible variant on December 13 from its most populous city, Karachi. Three weeks later, the variant, which was first reported by South Africa and Botswana, has spread to its major cities.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan confirmed that a total of 372 infections of the variant have been recorded, with most of the cases being reported in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
