KARACHI: The positivity ratio in Karachi has reached an alarming level of 18 percent, setting alarm bells among health and government officials.
In the previous 24 hours on Tuesday, 805 cases have surfaced in the city. There were 4,469 covid-19 tests were conducted. The health department said the positivity ratio remained at 15.52 percent a day before. In Karachi, the highest number of coronavirus cases, especially those of the new Omicron variant, have been reported in District East.
According to the report of the health department, 49 new Omicron cases have been reported in Karachi’s South district, while 83 have been logged from district East so far.
Meanwhile, Malir, 4, Korangi, 2, West four, Central district of the port city has reported 13 cases of the new variant so far, while 25 Omicron cases have been reported from the surrounding areas of Karachi airport.
Health authorities have convened an emergency meeting to discuss the alarming situation and recommended proposals for curbing the surge cases. Amid a surge in the positivity ratio, the Sindh health ministry headed by Azra Fazal Pechuhu has convened an emergency meeting of the COVID task force to deal with a rise in COVID cases particularly the Omicron variant.
The meeting would be held in the afternoon at the health department office, where proposals would be mulled over measures to curb the cases. The Sindh health department expressed concern that the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 is spreading rapidly in Karachi as the city has reported 191 cases of the variant.
According to NCOC, Karachi is one of the most affected cities by Omicron. The first case of the highly-transmissible strain in Pakistan was reported from the city on December 13. Since then, a spur of coronavirus has been seen in Lahore and Islamabad as well.
Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab urged people to immediately get vaccinated against the deadly virus. He clarified that the government is not imposing a lockdown but will have to take tough decisions if people don’t take precautionary measures.
