Pakistan has detected its maiden case of the Omicron sub-variant of the Coronavirus, the National Institute of Health, Islamabad stated on Monday.
This comes as the people of the country resume routine life after Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations without COVID-19 restrictions for the first time in two years.
In a tweet, the NIH reported that it had detected a case of Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1 via genome sequencing. It added that the new sub-variant is leading to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases in different countries.
The NIH recommended that people utilize the best preventive measures to avoid getting infected with the virus, which is vaccination against it.
“We strongly recommended getting vaccinated and all those due for boosters must get the shots immediately,” the tweet read.
Director General Health Dr. Rana Muhammad Safdar spoke with local media saying that the Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1 was detected in a traveller who was returning back from Qatar.
Meanwhile, Pakistan reported 64 new COVID-19 cases overnight. With these new cases, the Coronavirus positivity ratio stood at 0.49%. However, no deaths were recorded during the previous 24 hours.
Pakistanis have largely not been following any COVID-19 restrictions since March 31, when the government suspended and removed all Coronavirus curbs across the country.
