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Pakistan recorded more than 700 COVID-19 cases in a single day on Monday (Jan 3), the biggest count in two months, as officials warned of a fifth wave of infections and took measures to attempt to limit the fast-spreading Omicron form.

According to data from the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), which is supervising the pandemic response, at least 708 cases in the last 24 hours boosted the positive ratio to 1.55 percent, the highest since Oct. 24.

On Twitter, Asad Umar, the minister in charge of anti-COVID-19 activities, stated, "There is clear evidence now of the beginning of another COVID wave, which has been expected for the previous several weeks."

He claimed that genome sequencing has discovered an increasing number of cases with the Omicron variation, notably in Karachi, Pakistan's largest metropolis.

In Pakistan, almost 70 million individuals, or 32% of the population, have received two vaccination doses.

From Monday, the government will allow individuals above the age of 30 to receive booster dosages. Vaccinations are administered to children over the age of 12 at their schools.

According to the National Institute of Health, the first incidence of the Omicron form was recorded on Dec. 13 in Karachi, and a total of 75 cases had been verified as of Dec. 27. (NIH).

According to the report, 12 of the instances were connected to overseas travel.

The province administration of Sindh, whose city is Karachi, is developing a strategy to contain the strain, which includes a partial lockdown of a Karachi neighborhood last week after a family of around a dozen Omicron cases was discovered. (Syed Raza Hassan contributed reporting, and Robert Birsel edited the piece.)