Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the immediate restoration of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), after Pakistan reported its first case of the Omicron sub-variant. According to the details, the premier has asked the health ministry for updated report on the current situation of the sub-variant’s spread across the country.
The first case of the Omicron sub-variant was detected in Pakistan yesterday (May 9, 2022). “This new sub-variant is causing increasing number of cases in different countries.” said NIH Pakistan on Twitter. “The best preventative measures (besides mask-wearing at crowded places) is COVID-19 vaccination.” it added.
The best preventive measure (besides mask-wearing at crowded places) is COVID-19 vaccination. We strongly recommended getting vaccinated and all those due for boosters must get the shots immediately.
— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) May 9, 2022
According to the details, the Omicron subtype is highly infectious, more so than its predecessor. The sub-variant, which is called BA.2.12.1, is reportedly 30% more transmissible than the previous Omicron iterations. In the United States, the new sub-variant was found in 36% of the samples sequenced in the last week of April, up from 0.2% in late February.
However, it is still unclear if this new Omicron sub-variant is more or less deadly than the original Omicron and Delta.
As a preventative measure, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the immediate restoration of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).
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