A taxi driver awaits for the passengers in the old city locality of Lea Market, Karachi, Pakistan. Shops and businesses are closed in city, in the meanwhile, following the COVID 19 lockdown as being declared throughout the country by the state.
ISLAMABAD:Concerns about a fourth wave of coronavirus have intensified as the Delta variant, a virus strain initially detected in India, has emerged.
Since its discovery, the mutation has been discovered in over 80 countries. It spreads more easily, according to experts, due to modifications that make it better at latching onto cells in our bodies.
“The Delta variant is spreading across the country,” a senior official in the National Command and Operation Centre told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity.
This spread exists despite the fact that the positivity ratio, which peaked at 9% in May, has recently been ranging between 2% and 4%.
Viruses are continually evolving, and the majority of these alterations aren’t harmful. However, there is concern that some varieties will develop to become more contagious, produce more severe illness, or elude vaccine protection.
The variation is currently responsible for 90% of all new infections in the United Kingdom. It accounts for 20% of infections in the United States, and health officials believe it will soon become the most common variety in the country.
Prime Minister Imran Khan termed the variation “the biggest concern” last week, urging the public to take precautions.
“After a downslide, infections are on the rise again. We fear that the Delta variant could strike Pakistan,” he said in a televised address. “I appeal to the nation to wear masks and take protective measures.”
Earlier, Asad Umar, the NCOC’s Minister for Planning and Development, claimed he has evaluated artificial intelligence models and that a “fourth wave” could arise in Pakistan in July if health guidelines such as wearing masks and maintaining social distance are not strictly enforced.
RESTRICTIONS ARE TO BE DISREGARDED:
Authorities have restricted the entry of the unvaccinated to tourist spots, hotels, movie theatres, and other picnic spots during next week’s Eidul Adha holiday, the official added, citing some people’s unwillingness to get Covid-19 shots.
He added: “We are also prohibiting domestic air travel from August 1 for those who are not getting jabbed.”
People who refuse to get inoculated have already been told that their cellphones may be disconnected or their pay withheld by provincial governments.
However, due to ineffective enforcement measures, there are concerns that the directives will be carried out. Last week, Umar expressed his displeasure with the “total contempt” for the vaccine mandate for individuals attending indoor weddings and dining in indoor restaurants and gyms.
“If the owners of these facilities do not show responsibility & ensure compliance, there will be no choice but to shut them down,” he tweeted.
In recent weeks, the government has accelerated the immunisation effort, and everybody aged 18 and up is eligible for vaccine. To date, approximately 20 million vaccine doses have been given out, with a high of 0.5 million shots given out in the last 24 hours.
Initially, the government concentrated on administering vaccines to the elderly and other high-risk groups. With the spread of the Delta variety, however, it is attempting to revive the campaigns by overcoming vaccine scepticism and misunderstandings that the young do not require vaccination.
However, only about 4 million people are fully immunised.
With 1,590 infections in the last 24 hours, the country’s entire caseload has surpassed 976,000, with over 22,000 deaths.
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