According to local news media on Thursday that a lower prevalence of Covid-19 vaccination in the city is increasing Omicron variant cases, citing a medical professor.
According to Prof. Shahid Rasool, vice chancellor of Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi’s vaccination rate is barely 40%, which is extremely low for a megacity with such a vast population.
“The Delta strain of the coronavirus is also growing alongside Omicron,” Shahid Rasool warned, adding that “maximum genome sequencing is recommended to validate the Omicron variant infections.”
“The infection rate has increased to 8% this week, and the lock-down could be imposed if the positivity rate continues to rise,” the vice chancellor stated.
“The government will have to make a decision on it,” Prof Shahid Rasool said. “However, the lock-down decision would most likely be made after an increase in the Covid-19 infection rate.”
He said that the hospitals were not yet overburdened with patients. “We need to increase vaccination and follow standard operating procedures (SOPs),” he advised.
