ISLAMABAD: National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday said the new coronavirus variant spreading in China is a threat to Pakistan after the Chinese authorities decided to dismantle its “Zero-COVID” regime.
According to the NCOC, there is a risk that the new variant may enter Pakistan after China decided to lift the lockdown and travel restrictions.
The Omicron variant is surging in China weeks after an abrupt shift in policies, loosening its rules to curb the increasing COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began three years ago after the protests broke out against the tough restrictions.
“Pakistan is fully prepared to control the new variant. The country has dealt with the COVID variants in the past in a timely manner”, the NOCOC officials said.
They said there is a low risk due to the inoculation of the COVID-19 vaccine, adding that the vaccination of 90% of the eligible population in Pakistan has been completed. They said about 95% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.
