Pakistan is witnessing another surge in Covid-19 cases as this spike in coronavirus cases may turn into a sixth wave in the country.
The medical experts have suggested that there is a dire need that people to resume wearing face masks and maintain social distancing at public places to prevent the fast transmission of the new variants. According to health department officials, 641 fresh infections were recorded in the last 24 hours from across Pakistan.
COVID-19 Statistics 30 June 2022
— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) June 30, 2022
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 18,813
Positive Cases: 641
Positivity %: 3.41%
Deaths: 02
Patients on Critical Care: 119
Read more: Pakistan updates travel advisory amid looming Omicron-driven fifth Covid wave
While talking to the media, Dr Saeed Khan, a professor of molecular pathology heading the Sindh Public Health Lab at the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), said “A new variant — BA.5 — fast spreading in other countries had been reported in Pakistan, including Karachi, and now it was being locally transmitted.”
“While other [old] sub-variants of Omicron are also being reported in Karachi, this one is more contagious since it’s a new one and has been cause of concern in other parts of the world,” he said, adding that unvaccinated, the elderly and people with compromised immunity were particularly vulnerable.
“If didn’t pay heed to medical advice and start implementing the Covid-related preventive measures seriously, the spike in cases might turn into the sixth wave of coronavirus,” he said.
According to Dr Khan, there are multiple reasons behind the fast spread of the variants. “They are genetically different, which help them transmit fast. Other reasons include waning of vaccine immunity after six months, reluctance on part of the general public to get a booster shot and absence of Covid-19 preventive measures at public places.”
