ISLAMABAD – The country’s top health body has rejected claims about the detection of new Covid variant XBB amid contrasting reports in local media.
In a statement on Tuesday, National Institute of Health (NIH) Executive Director Aamer Ikram dismissed all reports surrounding the presence of a new dominant variant of contagious infection. “No cases of a new variant of Covid have been reported,” he said.
The top NIH official said all arrangements have been completed to combat the new variant; however, he denied reports about the detection of first case.
Earlier, reports in local media quoting NIH and Aga Khan University officials claimed about the presence of a highly infectious subvariant which was detected through genome sequencing.
Officials told media that genomic surveillance is underway in the capital although only a few samples are available for sequencing in light of limited positive cases in recent days.
The health officials also urged the masses not to panic, saying there is no imminent threat of any major Covid wave in the South Asian country as authorities are monitoring the situation.
BF.7 and XBB among other covid variants continue to wreak havoc in parts of China and other countries, evading the natural and artificial immunity against Covid-19 re-infections.
Pakistani rupee remains unchanges against US dollar in the open market on March 18, 2024, Monday.
In the open market, the US dollar was being quoted at 278.7 for buying and 281.65 for selling.
Euro moves down to 303 for buying and 306 for selling while British Pound hovers around 356 for buying, and 359 for selling.
UAE Dirham AED remains stable at 75.8 whereas the Saudi Riyal saw minor increase, with new rates at 74.05.
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
---|---|---|---|
US Dollar | USD | 278.7 | 281.65 |
Euro | EUR | 303 | 306 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 356 | 359 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 75.8 | 76.55 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 74.05 | 74.5 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 182.7 | 184.5 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 741.89 | 749.89 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 204 | 206.2 |
China Yuan | CNY | 38.78 | 39.18 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 40.92 | 41.32 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 35.69 | 36.04 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.37 | 3.48 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 1.86 | 1.94 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 908.8 | 917.8 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 59.59 | 60.19 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 171.07 | 173.07 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.67 | 26.97 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 724.62 | 732.62 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 76.7 | 77.4 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 206 | 208 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 27.27 | 27.57 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 315.8 | 318.3 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 7.79 | 7.94 |
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