Coronavirus outbreak: Sindh govt orders setting up four more isolation centres

CM Syed Murad Ali Shah orders arrangements for pilgrims with another 696 arriving in Sukkur today

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to establish four more isolation centres, based on the model of the one set up in Sukkur, across the province.

The decision has been taken keeping in view the continuous arrival of pilgrims in Sindh- 696 pilgrims are expected to reach Sukkur today (Wednesday) from Taftan- and the spike in COVID-19 cases.

Presiding over a meeting on Tuesday, the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the relevant officials to immediately make the newly contrasted hospitals in all districts of Sindh functional, so as to deal with the coronavirus outbreak effectively.

“This is a difficult situation and we will have to further strengthen our healthcare system [to tackle the crisis],” the CM said.

He pointed out that scores of Pakistanis were set to return to the country from Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Kingdom and other countries, implying the need to established more isolation wards and quarantine facilities. Hence, he ordered the conversion of newly constructed labour colonies in Nooriabad, Kotri, Hyderabad and Shaheed Benazirabad into isolation centres, similar to the one established in Sukkur.

The meeting was told that 31 international flights were scheduled to land at Jinnah International Airport on the day, of which nine were cancelled. As many as 3,922 passengers landed at the airport and three of them, suspected of carrying coronavirus, were quarantined, while their samples were collected for testing, the meeting was informed.

Pilgrims reaching Sukkur

As many as 696 pilgrims, who left Taftan in 17 buses on Tuesday evening, are expected to arrive in Sukkur today (Wednesday).

In order to facilitate the pilgrim, the CM has directed Sukkur Commissioner Shafiq Ahmed Mahessar to make all necessary arrangements for their accommodation, medical examination and testing of their samples. Besides, three health officials have been deployed as divisional level for ensuring the proper implementation of the Sindh government’s orders, issued in relation to coronavirus outbreak.

The CM has also directed the district administration to identify newly constructed hospitals in Sukkur so that they be converted into isolation centres and ordered the health department to send three laboratory technicians to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad, so that they could be trained for treating COVID-19 patients.

At a meeting held on the matter, the CM ordered the conversion of a block in Sukkur Labour Colony into a fully-equipped hospital for the pilgrims.

Coronavirus tally

A total of 17 new coronavirus cases were reported in Sindh on Tuesday. Of these, two were reported from Karachi and 15 from Sukkur. Following this development, the province’s tally has risen to 172.

‘Procure soaps’

As a measure to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Sindh government ordered on Tuesday all union councils in the province to purchase anti-septic soaps worth Rs100,000 and distribute them among the citizens.

The order has been issued with the aim to raise awareness about health and hygiene and the provincial government has instructed the relevant authorities in all 1,175 union councils of Sindh to ensure that the order was implemented within five days.

Speaking in this regard, Sindh Information and Religious Affairs Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that the provincial government would take all necessary measures to safeguard people against coronavirus.

He further asked the public to not to panic, saying that the “situation is under control at the moment.” The CM is personally monitoring the situation and the provincial government is ready to deal with any problem in connection with coronavirus outbreak, he added.

Meanwhile, the Sindh government ordered the closure of all markets, eateries and other public places  for 15 days, to prevent people-to-people transmission of the virus . However, as soon as the orders were issued, people thronged marketplaces, buying items in bulk to stock them for the coming days.

This was despite the government’s assurance that shops selling essential commodities, including grocery items and medicines, will remain open. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2020.