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ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is witnessing a significant resurgence of Covid-19, with a test positivity rate of 17% in April 2025, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This spike places the country among the worst-hit in the Eastern Mediterranean region, with only a slight dip to 15% reported in early May.
The figures mark a substantial increase compared to the same period in 2024 and coincide with a broader global rise in SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Pakistan Flags Low Reporting, Four Deaths Confirmed in Karachi
The WHO has flagged Pakistan for limited reporting on key Covid-19 indicators such as hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths, complicating efforts to assess the full impact of the virus.
Officials at Karachi’s Aga Khan University Hospital confirmed that four Covid-related deaths occurred in the past two weeks. All victims were immunocompromised, suffering from underlying conditions such as diabetes, cancer, or cardiovascular disease. Despite receiving intensive care, they succumbed to complications from the virus.
Covid-19 Rising Across the Region and Globe
Pakistan is not alone. WHO sentinel surveillance shows elevated virus activity in Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Globally, test positivity has climbed from 2% to 11% since mid-February across 73 reporting countries — levels not seen since July 2024.
Increases are most pronounced in the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific regions. Though Africa, Europe, and the Americas report lower activity, some sub-regions like the Caribbean and the Andes are now trending upward.
WHO Warns Pakistan Over Devastating Tobacco Impacts on Public Health and Economy
New Variant NB.1.8.1 on WHO’s Radar
WHO is monitoring a newly emerged Covid-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, which now makes up 10.7% of global sequences, up from 2.5% just a month ago. The variant is a descendant of JN.1 and carries spike mutations linked to higher transmissibility and reduced antibody neutralization.
While NB.1.8.1 has not yet been detected in Pakistan, it is spreading rapidly in Europe, the Americas, and the Western Pacific. The WHO advises close surveillance and preparedness.
Vaccination Uptake Remains Alarmingly Low
Despite the threat, global vaccination uptake is troublingly low. Between January and September 2024, only:
- 1.68% of older adults, and
- 0.96% of healthcare workers
in reporting countries received a Covid-19 vaccine dose.
Higher rates were observed in Europe and the Americas, while uptake in low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan, remains critically low.
The WHO reiterated that “any available vaccine is better than delaying vaccination,” urging countries to prioritize high-risk groups immediately.
Post-Emergency, Covid-19 Strategies Diverge
Since the official end of the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in May 2023, countries have taken varied approaches:
- Some have integrated Covid-19 into routine respiratory disease systems,
- Others remain in transition, grappling with resource shortages, staffing challenges, and competing health priorities.
Despite lower death and hospitalization rates, WHO maintains that global risk remains high due to variant unpredictability, lack of seasonality, and ongoing community transmission.
WHO Urges Continued Vigilance and Long-Term Planning
The LP.8.1 and NB.1.8.1 variants, now dominant globally, do not currently show increased severity, but WHO warns they must be closely monitored.
The agency is calling on all countries to:
- Maintain genomic surveillance,
- Continue sentinel testing, and
- Submit transparent reporting of Covid-19 trends.
The WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR) Standing Recommendations remain active through April 2026 and should continue guiding national policies. No travel or trade restrictions are currently advised.
To support long-term threat management, WHO is providing technical guidance and updated strategic frameworks to help embed Covid-19 response into broader respiratory health preparedness, alongside seasonal influenza and other emerging pathogens.
