COVID-19 seems to be back, as the first death from the virus has been reported in Lahore. Every other person had flu symptoms in the previous weeks. They were suffering from a sore throat, body aches, and a fever. The condition lasted for a few days and then went away. Many people thought it was COVID, while others linked it to seasonal flu.
Health experts, on the other hand, believed it was a coronavirus strain with high transmission but low mortality.
The Centre’s recent data shows that the national COVID-19 positivity rate has increased by over 3 percent, with 168 new patients – the highest number since September last year.
The positivity rates in Karachi and Lahore were 6.11 percent and 5.5l pc, respectively.
However, the NCOC assured people that they need not worry, but advised them to use masks and avoid crowded places.
Minister for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Abdul Qadir Patel also said the situation was under control, calling on people not to pay heed to rumors. According to the Punjab health minister, Dr. Javed Akram, an increase in political activities, the Pakistan Super League, and the COVID-19 variation were the reasons behind the increase in the number of patients.
The minister said a drop in the vaccines’ efficacy and a mutation in the Covid Omicron strain have resulted in a spike in cases. Dr. Akram believed that became the vaccines given to people was designed to combat the original virus, their effectiveness against variants had diminished. Although some pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer and Moderna, have introduced bivalent vaccines, they are not yet available in Pakistan.
NCOC member Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan also blamed the new strains for the increase in cases but advised people against panicking. Dr. Khan said the number of patients would fluctuate as new variants arrived. This phenomenon was observed last year as well, well before summer, but the situation remained under control.
But, it was patients with underlying ailments who needed to be careful and take the utmost precautions. People should avoid crowded places as the virus is currently spreading through humans only, unlike in 2020 when the pandemic was at its peak and spread through utensils, dresses, and currency notes. Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel has said that the government had strengthened the role of Border and Health Services to deal with Covid-19 variants.
He went on to say that surveillance systems had been activated at entry points at all airports and that all passengers were being subjected to rapid tests and screening. In recent months, China saw an uptick in cases after it relaxed its zero COVID” policy following protests. Beijing says that the situation has improved now and has even introduced a vaccine based on mRNA technology that targets the Omicron variant. According to health experts, COVID will continue to exist in various forms due to its strong mutation ability. We, therefore, need to change our lifestyle, go for booster shots, and strengthen our immunity.
