Suspected Omicron patient who fled quarantine facility in Karachi 'held'

KARACHI: The second suspected patient of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Pakistan, who fled a quarantine facility in Karachi, has been held and admitted to a hospital for isolation, ARY NEWS reported.

It was reported earlier in the day that the second suspected case of Omicron variant has been reported in Karachi, whereas, the infected man allegedly fled from the quarantine facility.

Sources within Sindh Health Department said that a 35-year-old man had tested positive for COVID-19 and was later confirmed as a patient of the Omicron variant.

The infected man had been spending a quarantine period in a hotel after arriving from the United Kingdom (UK) not included in Category C.

The health authorities said that the suspected patient was held again and admitted to a quarantine facility, where security has been beefed up to avoid such incidents again.

Pakistan had imposed a ban on travellers from those countries that came under Category C or reported Omicron cases.

Read More: PAKISTAN IMPOSES TRAVEL BAN FROM SEVEN COUNTRIES AMID OMICRON VARIANT

The security arrangements of quarantine areas come under the jurisdiction of the provincial home department, police forces and concerned deputy commission (DC).

It has been learned that nineteen persons are still present at the said quarantine facility and sequencing of five out of 19 is still due but no security measures were taken there.