Covid-19 emerged in China on December 19. To date, over 261.5 million humans have been infected globally and more than 5.1 million have died. In Pakistan alone, 1,284,365 cases have been reported- 1,241,909 recovered and 28,718 dead.
Omicron, a new variant of covid, was diagnosed on November 9 on a patient in Botswana (South Africa). The experts initially specified this variant as novel one, dubbed B.1.1.529.
Scientists in South Africa rapidly tracked the emerging virus in a number of provinces. The cases were formally reported to WHO on November 24, 2021. The diagnosis of the strain sent a chill through much of the world.
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WHO has labelled it as a variant of concern and marked it in the highest alert category for an emerging corona virus variant. The strain because of its fast transferability and vast spread is considered to be deadliest of all. Omicron has numerous mutations and according to WHO some are concerning with a high-risk of reinfection.
Amid the spread of news, the world economy has been hit drastically with oil prices dropping, stock markets crashing, emergency being levied in US state and travel bans being imposed globally. A situation of panic and chaos is roaming.
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Pakistan, Qatar, United States, Indonesia, Saudia Arabia, Britain, Kuwait and Netherlands have already imposed travel restrictions on Southern Africa.
Pakistan has imposed complete travel ban from six South African countries- South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, and Hong Kong. Sindh, a province of Pakistan, has imposed compulsion of booster shot.
However, WHO has warned against bellowing out of proportion before the new variant is fully understood.
