Sindh CM orders purchase of more ventilators for COVID-19 isolation centres

18 new cases confirmed; 13 patients among travellers returning from Taftan, with over 250 still awaiting tests

HYDERABAD/ KARACHI: As 18 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the province on Sunday, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah ordered the purchase of more ventilators for isolation centres.

Visiting hospitals in the city, Shah surveyed the preparations for the potential spread of the virus and directed officials to procure necessary equipment to deal with the repercussions.

He visited a newly-established isolation ward at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, where some patients were under treatment. On the hospital executive director's complaint about the shortage of ventilators, the CM directed the chief secretary to obtain ventilators for the facility, ensuring that it could function at full capacity.

Meanwhile, at the Indus Hospital, he viewed the testing process for the disease at the laboratory and provided extra testing kits. He also ordered the procurement of necessary machinery to enhance the laboratory's capacity.

Later, at the daily coronavirus taskforce meeting at CM House, it was revealed that 40 samples of travellers who arrived at Sukkur isolation facilities from Taftan on Saturday had been tested in Karachi. Of these samples, 13 patients tested positive for the contagious disease. Meanwhile, the samples from 253 of the 293 travellers were yet to be tested.

Shah issued directives to the Sukkur commissioner and others to segregate the confirmed patients from those who had tested negative, shifting those in serious condition to Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences.

He was further informed that five separate cases were confirmed in Karachi, including three patients who had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, one who had arrived from Quetta, and another with no recent travel history. This brings Sindh's total tally up to 35 patients, two of whom have recovered and been released.

Shah also instructed the Karachi commissioner to convert Sindh labour department apartments into isolation centres in the city, releasing Rs150 million for the purpose. He requested the Indus Hospital to provide ventilators and other required equipment to the new facilities.

In a message to the people, the chief minister urged anyone experiencing coughing, fever, body aches or shortness of breath to immediately call the coronavirus control room at 021-99204452, 021-99206565 or 0316-0111712.

Meanwhile, Sindh Information and Religious Affairs Minister Nasir Hussain Shah and Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani met ulema to inform them that the provincial government was taking all necessary measures to prevent the spread of the virus and keep the people safe. The education minister further informed them that all educational institutes were closed in the province, on the directives of the chief minister, to decrease the chances of virus spread.



The information minister requested the ulema for their support, adding that people would heed their appeals. The ministers also asked Maulana Ilyas Qadri to release a video endorsing the government's health advisory, to which he agreed.

The ulema assured the ministers that seminaries would remain closed, as per the directives of the CM.

Arriving from Taftan
Another batch of 661 travellers is expected to arrive at the quarantine facilities set up in the Labour Colony flats in Sukkur by Tuesday.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Rana Adeel and Sukkur mayor Arsalan Shaikh told a press conference that two people from Khairpur district, who had illegally travelled to Iran, had also come to the quarantine centre with coronavirus symptoms. Samples were taken from them and they were admitted to Civil Hospital, Sukkur.

Contingency plans
As part of the plan to establish quarantine and isolation centres for suspected and confirmed coronavirus patients, the Sindh government has reserved over 2,000 apartments constructed by the Sindh labour department in Hyderabad and Jamshoro.

In a meeting on Saturday, Hyderabad commissioner Muhammad Abbass Baloch told officials to expedite the provision of electricity, gas and water to the apartments, while also telling deputy commissioners to set up quarantine centres and appoint focal persons in their respective districts.

Isolation wards have currently been set up at Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) and the Trauma Centre in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, 1,504 flats have been designated for quarantine facilities on the city's outskirts, while another 512 flats are located in Kotri, Jamshoro. "If the need arises, government schools and other government buildings can also be used," Baloch added.

Hyderabad deputy commissioner Ayesha Abro also asked officials to make arrangements for food provision at the facility, further tasking them with surveying buildings that may be used for the purpose too.
The LUH additional medical superintendent told the meeting that the hospital needed protective gear for doctors and paramedics.

Court orders prisoner release

Meanwhile, a judge ordered the release of prisoners involved in minor cases from all jails in Karachi, amid fears of the spread of coronavirus. In light of this decision, hundreds of prisoners will be released from Karachi's jails today (Monday).

In a letter issued by the Karachi Central district and sessions judge, all subordinate magistrates have been directed to release these prisoners in view of the dangers of an unhealthy environment in jails, where an outbreak could be deadly.

The judges have also been instructed to visit the Central Jail Karachi, Malir District Jail, Women's Jail and Juvenile Prison on Monday (today).
They were further ordered to review under-trial cases involving minor crimes such as brawls, personal disputes and disruption of peace, and issue orders for the release of under-trial prisoners in these cases.