ISLAMABAD: As Omicron, a new variant of deadly corona takes turn for the worst, the federal cabinet , on Tuesday was asked for taking every possible step to prevent spread of the pandemic.
Asad Umar, minister for Planning and chief of National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) gave a detailed presentation to the federal cabinet on the issue that met here with prime minister, Imran Khan, in the chair that Omicron variant was taking deadly turn as daily infection rate has gone up to 5000 cases.
He informed the cabinet that Sindh was the most affected province of Omicron with 36 % infection rate which was extremely alarming. Asad Umar told the cabinet that the NCOC was closely monitoring the COVID situation. He said NCOC has noted quick surge in the cases in hospitals intensive care units (ICU)
On NCOC recommendations, the government has already issued order to the educational institutions to close down junior sections and reduce 50 % attendence on camps for higher classes.
Information minister , Fawad Hussain Chaudhary, also spoke on the worsening omicron situation in the country. He said the school kids were infected by omicron . He noted that as a result of slow pace of vaccination in Sindh, omicron’s infection rate in that province was higher than other provinces.
According to an official handout issued in the evening here on January 18, 2022 the federal cabinet expressed concern over alarming level of omicron infection in the country and directed to all provinces Azad Jummu Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan to take all possible measures to stop spreading of omicron.
The handout said the federal cabinet also discussed the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) bill and decided to dispel what it noted wrong impression created by the opposition in the public about it.