Facing the threat of the omicron variant of COVID-19, officials at the Afghan-Japan hospital have raised concerns over the lack of testing kits for the omicron variant at the hospital.

According to officials, dozens of COVID-19 patients in critical condition are being treated by the hospital each day, and the hospital is not capable of testing and treating all patients due to many shortages of testing kits, oxygen, and other equipment.

Officials said the number of COVID-19 patients has grown in recent days.

“The situation is really worrying. There are no testing kits of omicron, numbers of critical patients are getting higher every day,” said Sheren Agha Naseri, head of the ICU at the Afghan-Japan hospital.

“The omicron variant was detected in neighboring Iran and Pakistan, the borders are open with these countries, so it is so concerning,” said Nasim Naeem, head of the Afghan-Japan hospital.

At the same time, health workers said that itchy skin, headaches, muscle pain and fatigue are symptoms of the omicron variant, and that it is spreading very fast. “Primary findings show that omicron variant is more dangerous than the previous, it is circulating very fast, and everyone can easily be infected,” said Hashmat Faizi, a doctor.

Ministry of Public Health officials said that with the cooperation of international agencies, they are attempting to reopen COVID-19 centers which were closed after the collapse of former government.

“Centers activated in five provinces, assisted by the WHO and UNICEF, made commitments to provide medical equipment for us, and together with international offices we will reopen these centers,” said Abdul Bari Omar, deputy minister of health services.

The omicron coronavirus variant has been detected in around 60 countries.

In a separate report, local officials in southern Kandahar province announced Tuesday that COVID-19 cases have increased in the province. Officials urged residents to keep themselves safe from the virus.