ISLAMABAD: The Sindh government on Saturday informed the Supreme Court (SC) that it has tested 16,920 people for coronavirus in the province till date whereas 11 union councils had been sealed in Karachi after the number of patients there rose from 84 to 234.
In its report submitted to the SC in relation to the suo motu case on the government measures regarding the coronavirus crisis, the provincial government said that the population of the 11 UCs exceeded 674,000 while 194 out of 1,210 tests came positive for the deadly virus.
It stated that out of 388 functioning ventilators in the province, the government has only 144 to cater to coronavirus patients. It added that around 21 corona patients are in critical condition.
In the wake of the coronavirus situation, 6,673 ration bags were distributed in sealed areas. As per the procedure laid out by the Sindh government, 285,673 ration bags were distributed throughout the province.
The report added that there are 1,056 isolation wards spread across the province treating coronavirus patients.
Earlier, the apex court had also questioned the credentials of the Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza and ordered his removal after expressing dissatisfaction over the government’s response to the crisis.
The SC, in the suo motu proceedings, had sent notices to the Attorney-General of Pakistan, the health secretary, and the interior secretary questioning the inadequate facilities being provided to citizens by the federal government to combat the coronavirus.
As of Saturday, Pakistan recorded more than 7,000 cases of the coronavirus with around 144 deaths.
