UK Variant Accounts for 70 Percent of COVID Cases in Pakistan: Researcher
KARACHI, Pakistan A coronavirus variant first discovered in the United Kingdom now accounts for up to 70 percent of COVID-19 infections across Pakistan, a research centre studying the disease in the country said on Saturday.
The country has imposed strict nationwide restrictions in the lead up to the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr next week in a bid to control a spike in cases, including banning public transport over the holiday period.
“There is a 60 percent to 70 percent prevalence of the UK variant in Pakistan (today),” Professor Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry, director at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, told Reuters, adding that this figure was 2 percent in January.
Karachi
May 8, 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities and weaknesses of the healthcare system of Pakistan. When the pandemic emerged, the nation was in dire need of developing testing, tracking, and treatment facilities for the sixth largest population.
The National Institute of Virology, established in 2018 in collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (China), at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, has played a significant role in the national fight against the ongoing pandemic by conducting more than 100,000 coronavirus tests in a few months and many other services.
Director ICCBS Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary and COMSTECH coordinator general expressed these views while presiding over a meeting held at the Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) on Thursday. Prof Choudhary said at this time of national need, several academic and research institutions had moved forward to c
People stand in queues while they wait their turn to receive the first shot of the Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Karachi, May 8. AP
A coronavirus variant first discovered in the United Kingdom now accounts for up to 70 per cent of Covid-19 infections across Pakistan, a research centre studying the disease in the country said on Saturday.
Pakistan has imposed strict nationwide restrictions in the lead up to Eidul Fitr next week in a bid to control a spike in cases, including banning public transport over the holiday period. There is a 60pc to 70pc prevalence of the UK variant in Pakistan (today), Professor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry, director at the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, told
By Syed Raza Hassan KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) - A coronavirus variant first discovered in the United Kingdom now accounts for up to 70% of COVID-19 .