Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has expressed concerns over sharp increase in numbers of coronavirus cases in the province, especially in Karachi.
CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah, while chairing a meeting of the DCs of the province via video link on the current coronavirus situation, said that the death toll ratio has now reached 2.2% in the province.
He said that 65 new cases were reported in southern Karachi, 31 in central district, 28 in east, 23 in Korangi and five in the west district as per the breakdown. CM Sindh directed the DCs to make concrete steps to control over increasing case.
Murad Ali Shah said that 227 new cases emerged on Monday when 1600 new tests were conducted and five more people lost their lives taking to the toll to 61 within 33 days.
“Out of 227 new cases, 156 belong to Karachi and 71 to other divisions of the province but the local transmission has started wreaking havoc in the city.”
In his video message, the chief minister expressing seriousness of the situation said that District South has produced 68 cases of local transmission, Central 31, East 65 cases, Korangi 23, West five and Malir 4. “This is not an easy situation; therefore we will have to take some strict and proactive measures to contain it and stop its further spread,” he said.
The chief minister said that the government has conducted so far 26058 tests against which 2764 cases have been diagnosed, including 227 new cases. He added that unfortunately five more patients could not survive despite serious efforts by the doctors.
Murad Shah said that the death toll stemming from coronavirus has reached to 61 which was 2.2 percent of the total patients.
Talking about the positive cases other than Karachi, Mr Shah said that Khairpur has 33 cases, Tando Mohammad Khan eight, Jacobabad eight, Hyderabad seven, Shaheed Benazirabad six, Kashmore four, Larkana two, Mirpurkhas two, Badin one.
He said that 2068 patients were under treatment, including 1223 at their homes, 547 at Isolation Centers and 298 at different hospitals.
Sharing data of Tabligh jamaat case, Mr Shah said that 4955 were tested, of them 658 came as positive and 4135 negative while the result of 161 was pending. Out of 158 positive cases, 158 belong to Hyderabad, 10 to Jamshoro, two Badin, 13 Tando Mohammad Khan, six Tando Allahyar, three Thatta, 10 Dadu, seven Sujawal, four Mirpurkhas, one Umerkot, four Shaheed Benazirabad, 14 Sanghar, 19 Naushahro Feroze, 67 Sukkur, 114 Khairpur, 116 Ghotki, 37 Larkana, four Kashmore, eight Jacobabad, three Shikarpur.
Mr Shah also said that out of 2764 patients 2065 or 75 percent were male and 699 or 25 percent female.
Giving frequency of the age of the patients, the chief minister said that 115 patients were lower than 10 years of age, 201 between 11 to 20 years of age, 553 between 21 to 30 years, 484 between 31 to 40 years, 340 between 41 to 50 years, 374 between 51 to 60 years, 274 between 61 to 70 years, 80 between 71 to 82 years, nine between 81 to 90 and one between one to 100 years. “The age frequency shows that the worst affected people from 21 years to 50 years and 51 years to 70 years therefore everyone has to comply with health advisories,” he said.
Mr Shah said that there would be prayers in the mosque in congregation but compliance of SOPs and health advisories has been made mandatory. “The ulema and religious scholars have always cooperated with the government and I am sure their support will be continued,” he said and added the situation of growing cases was in front of everyone and the government without support of the people could not do single-handedly.
The chief minister said that some export-based industrial units and other establishments have started operation. “I have asked the concerned deputy commissioners to keep them checking just to ensure compliance of the SOPs already shared with them,” he said.
Mr Shah said that the human life was precious and he won’t allow anybody to put them at risk. “Once again, I am requesting each and every one of you to follow SOPs, ensure social distancing and keep yourself and others safe and secure,” he concluded.
Sindh Chief Minister, just after review coronavirus destructions, immediately called a meeting of all the commissioners and deputy commissioner at CM House. The Commissioner of Karachi and deputy commissioners attended the meeting while the commissioners and deputy commissioners of the divisions, other than Karachi joined the meeting through video link.
The chief minister directed the deputy commissioners that the cases in the katchiabadies of Karachi and other districts were increasing day by day. “The local transmission is dangerous and must be stopped at once, otherwise it would be uncontrollable,” he said.
The chief minister directed the deputy commissioners to identify their hotspots and start extensive testing. “We don’t have any shortage of the testing kits and it is time to utilize them,” he said.
