December 30, 2021
1 min read

Afghanistan lacks equipment to detect Omicron variant

The country has asked World Health Organization (WHO) to provide testing machines for the new fast-spreading Covid-19 variant…reports Asian Lite News

The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan said that the country does not have equipment to detect Omicron, adding that it has asked the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide testing machines for the new fast-spreading Covid-19 variant.

Both Pakistan and Iran, the two countries that share borders with Afghanistan, have confirmed cases of the new variant, reports TOLO News.

“Omicron is not distinguishable by the PCR machines that we have now, it requires more developed machinery. We have contacted the WHO and they have promised to provide these machines for us by the end of January 2022,” Javed Hazher, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, health workers have said that the fight against the virus should not be ignored as Afghanistan is struggling with economic and political challenges.

They added that that neglecting the pandemic will lead to many people to be infected with the Omicron variant.

ALSO READ: US to provide 1mn vax doses to Afghanistan

“The economy and political problems caused Covid-19 to be ignored and not taken seriously. A crisis will happen if we do not face the latest wave of the coronavirus triggered by the Omicron variant,” said Ahmad Jawad Fardeen, a doctor.

According to WHO figures, Afghanistan has so far registered 157,998 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 7,355 deaths, while a total of 4,674,518 vaccine doses have been administered.

Previous Story

Canada honours 2 indian-origin professionals

Next Story

Mummy of Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep I digitally unwrapped

Latest from Afghanistan

UK shuts both its Afghan resettlement schemes

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy has fulfilled its initial objective of supporting Afghans who worked alongside the UK military The government has announced the closure

Rashid Khan Condemns Taliban Education Clampdown

While advocating for women’s education, Rashid also highlighted the importance of trained healthcare professionals, especially for women….reports Asian Lite News Rashid Khan, one of Afghanistan’s most prominent cricketers, has publicly condemned the

Mass Afghan Expulsions from Iran

Between June 18 and June 26, a total of 88,308 undocumented Afghan nationals were forcibly returned from Iran to Afghanistan More than 88,000 undocumented Afghan migrants were deported from Iran in a

Over 7,000 Afghans return overnight

This latest influx is part of a broader, ongoing trend of mass returns—often under duress—from neighbouring Iran and Pakistan, where millions of Afghans have lived for decades, many without legal documentation. A

Afghan women UN staff forced to work from home

Multiple Afghan women working across various UN agencies have reported being harassed and intimidated by unidentified men in recent weeks A wave of threats against Afghan women employed by the United Nations
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Global Covid caseload tops 526.7 mn

The global coronavirus caseload has topped 527.1 million, while the

West runs risk of legitimising Taliban by holding talks

Afghanistan is facing worse humanitarian crisis with no international aid.