KARACHI: New cases of the 'contagious' BA.5 Omicron variant have recently been identified in Sindh.

The new cases of Covid-19's BA.5 Omicron variant have been reported in Karachi and Hyderabad. According to the news source, the new sub-variant impacts Karachi's South and Central districts the most.

New Omicron subvariant BA.5 cases reported in Sindh

The variant was discovered for the first time in South Africa in November 2021. After an increase in global coronavirus incidence, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the BA.5 variant as a "variant of concern." This variant, like BA.2, is more contagious than its predecessors. BA.5 is more transmissible than other omicron subvariants, as well as being tougher to find neutralising antibodies for. However, BA.5 infections, like those caused by other omicron subvariants, are less severe than those caused by other COVID-19 strains, such as delta.

Meanwhile, the percentage of COVID-19 cases that are positive is steadily rising across the country. Pakistan's pandemic virus-positive rate has lately increased to 1.77 per cent. Officials believe the latest increase is due to the spread of the new sub-variant.