KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that as many as 227 new cases of coronavirus emerged on Monday after 1,600 new tests were conducted, while five more persons lost their lives, taking the provincial death toll to 61.
“Out of the 227 new cases, 156 belong to Karachi and 71 to other divisions of Sindh as local transmissions have started wreaking havoc in the city,” he said in his daily video message released from the CM House.
The chief minister said district South had 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 stricter and proactive measures to contain and stop its further spread,” he said.
The chief minister said the government had so far conducted 26,058 tests against which 2,764 cases had been diagnosed.
Shah said the death toll stemming from coronavirus was now at 2.2 per cent.
Talking about the positive cases other than Karachi, he said Khairpur had 33 cases, Tando Mohammad Khan eight, Jacobabad eight, Hyderabad seven, Shaheed Benazirabad six, Kashmore four, Larkana two, Mirpurkhas two, Badin one.
He said 2,068 patients were under treatment, including 1223 at their homes, 547 at Isolation Centers and 298 at different hospitals whereas 2,065 were male and 699 female.
Sharing data of Tabligh Jamaat case, Shah said 4955 were tested, of them, 658 came positive and 4,135 negatives while the result of 161 was pending. Out of the 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 Naushehroferoze, 67 Sukkur, 114 Khairpur, 116 Ghotki, 37 Larkana, four Kashmore, eight Jacobabad, three Shikarpur.
The chief minister said 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 to 50 years and 51 years to 70 years, therefore, everyone has to comply with health advisories,” he added.
He said there would be prayers in mosques in the congregation but compliance of SOPs and health advisories had been made mandatory. “The ulemas and religious scholars have always cooperated with the government and I am sure their support will be continued,” he said, adding the situation of growing cases was in front of everyone and the government could handle the virus single handedly without the support of people.
He said 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.
“Human life is precious and I 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.
