Country's omicron tally reaches 75 while 12 of them are linked with foreign travel
ISLAMABAD – The Ministry of National Health Services has warned of a fifth wave of novel coronavirus as the country is facing the arrival of a more contagious omicron variant.
Reports in local media said the South Asian country is likely to hit with the fifth wave of the deadly disease in the mid of February 2022 as community transmission of Omicron variant has started.
With the detection of Omicron cases in all major cities, officials are expected daily detection of around 3,000-4,000 cases per day especially in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad where so far 75 people were found infected with the new variant.
On Tuesday, NIH confirmed that so far 75 cases of the Omicron variant were confirmed in Pakistan, including 33 in Karachi where the first case was reported on December 13 while 17 cases of the Omicron variant have been reported from Islamabad and 13 in Lahore.
Delving into details, an NIH official said most of the Omicron variant cases were ‘asymptomatic’, which shows that the new variant could be spreading silently in metropolises where only a few labs had the capacity to pick the suspected cases.
Meanwhile, World Health Organization said the overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high after Covid cases numbers spiked up by 11 percent globally last week.
The new variant is behind rapid virus spikes in states where it has already overtaken the previously-dominant Delta variant. The new variant has a growth advantage over the Delta with a doubling time of two to three days and rapid increases in the incidence of cases are seen in a number of countries, per reports.
The United States has reported a record high of over 440,000 daily Covid cases as the Omicron variant spreads in the holiday season. The variant of concern had not been sweeping the country as much as expected earlier, with the estimated proportion of new cases accounted for by the highly transmissible strain in the week through December 18 sharply revised downward to 23 percent from 73 percent.
It showed that the Delta variant, which triggered a surge in cases in the summer, was still the dominant variant in the US.
Pakistani rupee remained stable against the US dollar, and other currencies in the open market on Friday.
On Friday, the US dollar remained stable and was being quoted at 283.2 for buying and 286.15 for selling.
Euro comes down to 308 for buying and 311 for selling. British Pound rate dropped to 358.5 for buying, and 362 for selling.
UAE Dirham AED witnessed slight drop and new rate stands at 77.4 whereas the Saudi Riyal remained stable at 76.
Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 283.2 | 286.15 |
Euro | EUR | 308 | 311 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 358.5 | 362 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 77.4 | 78.1 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 76 | 76.8 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 187.2 | 189 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 757.23 | 765.23 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 209 | 211 |
China Yuan | CNY | 39.89 | 40.29 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 41.19 | 41.59 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 36.41 | 36.71 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.42 | 3.53 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 1.39 | 1.45 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 921.71 | 930.71 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 61.02 | 61.62 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 174.54 | 176.54 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.05 | 26.35 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 739.62 | 747.62 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 78.22 | 78.92 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 211 | 213 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 27.12 | 27.42 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 324.94 | 327.44 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 8.06 | 8.21 |
Gold price in Pakistan increased as the yellow metal witnessed an upward trend in the international market.
On Friday, the price of a single tola of 24-karat gold stands at Rs217,400 and 10 grams of 24k gold costs Rs186,390.
Single tola of 22 Karat Gold costs Rs199,282, 21 karat rate for per tola is Rs190,225 and 18k gold rate is Rs163,050 each tola.
In the global market, gold prices hover at around $2026, gaining $8.30 on Friday.
Today Gold Price in Pakistan (8 December 2023)
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Karachi | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Islamabad | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Peshawar | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Quetta | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Sialkot | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Attock | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Gujranwala | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Jehlum | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Multan | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Gujrat | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Nawabshah | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Chakwal | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Hyderabad | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Nowshehra | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Sargodha | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Faisalabad | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Mirpur | PKR 217,400 | PKR 2,583 |
Copyright ©2023. Reproduction of this website's content without express written permission from 'Daily Pakistan' is strictly prohibited.