Pakistan sees highest number of COVID cases in two months: Live | Coronavirus pandemic News

January 3, 2022 admin

India starts vaccinating teens; Qatar reports third COVID-19 wave and Kuwait issues travel warning for some EU states.

Pakistan has reported more than 700 COVID-19 cases in a single day, its highest tally in two months, while India has launched a drive to vaccinate children before a feared Omicron surge.

Elsewhere, Qatar health officials say the country is witnessing a third coronavirus wave amid a surge in reported cases.

Here are the latest updates:

41 mins ago (09:10 GMT)

Tokyo reports 103 daily coronavirus cases

The Tokyo government says the city has 103 daily coronavirus infections, the highest tally since October 8.

The number of new cases in Tokyo has been on the rise since the end of last month. Monday’s figure is up from 84 infections reported the previous day.

A pedestrian walks past a department store in Tokyo, Japan

56 mins ago (08:55 GMT)

Qatar in ‘a third wave’ of COVID-19

Qatar is witnessing the start of a third coronavirus wave, a spike in cases heightened by Omicron, according to a health official.

Dr Soha al-Bayat, head of vaccination at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), said in a televised interview that “most of the new COVID-19 cases are related to the Omicron variant”, adding that cases have been rising in the country since November but a significant spike was seen in the last two weeks.

“According to the primary available information, Omicron is a fast spreader but the symptoms are mild or moderate without any serious complications,” al-Bayat said on Qatar TV.

Pakistan records highest cases in two months

Pakistan reported 708 COVID cases in a single day, its highest tally in two months, as authorities warned of a fifth wave of infections and made preparations to try to contain the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

The latest data of the past 24 hours pushed the positivity ratio to 1.55 percent, the highest since October 24, according to the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), which is overseeing the pandemic response.

“There is clear evidence now of a beginning of another COVID wave which has been expected for the last few weeks,” Asad Umar, minister in charge of supervising anti-COVID-19 operations, said on Twitter.

A street vendor waits for customers at a market closed due to COVID-19 measures in Peshawar, Pakistan

2 hours ago (08:15 GMT)

Kuwaitis told to avoid European travel over Omicron

Kuwait has called on its citizens to avoid travel to several European countries hit hard by Omicron.

The foreign ministry said they should “delay their trips” generally and, in particular, to France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy.

It also urged its citizens to leave those countries if they are already there, “considering the significant and unprecedented rise in the number of new cases”.

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