ISLAMABAD: Six people died due to coronavirus infection, while 348 tested positive during the last 24 hours in the country.

According to the statistics of National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 39,739 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours, while 648 patients are in critical care. Positivity ratio stands at 0.87 percent.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has warned the people to strictly follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), as Pakistan may experience fifth wave of Coronavirus in the mid of February 2022 with daily detection of around 3,000-4,000 cases per day as community transmission of Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 or Coronavirus has begun.

According to a report quoting a senior official of the Health Ministry, transmission of Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 has started in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and it is feared a rise in Covid-19 cases all over the country in the coming two weeks.

The National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has also 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, 2021 while 17 cases of the Omicron variant have been reported from Islamabad and 13 in Lahore.