Minister blames Sindh governor for Matiari outbreak

Claims 24 virus cases emerged after Ismail's visit to the district on April 22

HYDERABABD: Sindh Revenue Minister Makhdoom Mehboobuz Zaman has held the provincial governor, Imran Ismail, responsible for the 24 coronavirus cases surfacing in Matiari district in the wake of the latter's visit there.

In an online meeting with district officials on Friday, Zaman claimed that all the cases had appeared after Ismail's visit on April 22, when he had toured three places.

"I had already predicted that due to the governor's activity, there was a risk of the spread of coronavirus cases here and my fears came true," he asserted, adding that the Sindh government would not tolerate a similar mistake by any senior official in the future.

He further deplored political opposition to the district administration's move of preparing a list of those who had interacted with the governor and referring them for testing. "What I said [regarding the identification and tests of these people] was given a political colour."

Larkana doctors infected

Meanwhile, three doctors and four paramedics have been diagnosed with the virus in Larkana district.

According to deputy commissioner Noman Siddiqui, two female medical officers posted at rural health centres (RHCs) in Ratodero taluka and a private doctor in Ratodero, besides four paramedics at Chandka Medical College Hospital's ear, nose and throat ward, were among 23 persons who tested positive on Thursday.

Siddiqui stated that the three RHCs operated by the Peoples Primary Healthcare Initiative, where the two female doctors were deputed, had been sealed and the staff had been tested.

The locality where the third doctor practised is already sealed.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2020.