‘Indian variant’ of coronavirus not yet reported in Pakistan — health ministry

Pakistani labourers wearing facemask walks along a street during in Rawalpindi on April 14, 2020. (AFP)

• India recorded over 320,000 new infections Tuesday as a grim surge of illness and death weighed on the country
• Pakistan has offered to send ventilators, BiPap machines, digital X ray machines, personal protective equipment 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s health ministry has said the country had not yet reported any cases of the “Indian strain” of the coronavirus considered to be responsible for a catastrophic second wave of the pandemic in its South Asian neighbor.
India recorded more than 320,000 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday as a grim surge of illness and death ripped through the country.
Syed Sajid Shah, a spokesperson for the Pakistani health ministry, told reporters on Monday the country was still “safe” from the Indian variant while cases of the UK variant were being reported in Pakistan.
Pakistan has already banned land and air travel from India, citing concerns about the spread of the Indian coronavirus variant.
Last week, Pakistan offered “relief support” to India as hospitals in the neighboring nation begged for oxygen supplies and coronavirus infections soared.
“As a gesture of solidarity with the people of India in the wake of the current wave of COVID-19, Pakistan has offered to provide relief support to India,” the Pakistani foreign office said, including ventilators, BiPap machines that can help push air into the lungs, digital X ray machines, personal protective equipment and related items.
“Concerned authorities of Pakistan and India can work out modalities for quick delivery of the relief items,” the statement said. “They can also explore possible ways of further cooperation to mitigate the challenges posed by the pandemic.”