960 new cases emerge in Sindh, 20 succumb to virus

CM Murad urges people to celebrate Eid with simplicity

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Thursday said 20 more patients have succumbed to the novel coronavirus in the province and 960 people have tested positive in Sindh in last 24 hours.

“So far, the death toll from the virus has risen to 336,” CM Murad said during a press conference. “The condition of 143 patients is critical and 33 patients are still on ventilators.”

He added that at present 13,263 patients are undergoing treatment, 11,735 patients are in self-isolation at their homes, 608 in isolation centres whereas 722 patients are undergoing treatment in different hospitals of the province.



“Today 680 patients recovered and went home,” the chief minister said. “The number of recoveries in Sindh has reached 6,325.”

Providing a breakdown of the cases, CM Murad said that more than 700 new cases emerged in Karachi of which 233 in East Karachi District, 169 in South and 137 in Central, 97 in West, 86 in Korangi and 57 in Malir.

He added that 22 new cases were reported in Shikarpur, 17 in Hyderabad and 14 in Larkana, CM Murad added. Sukkur and Qambar Shahdadkot nine cases each while seven cases in Ghotki have emerged.

The chief minister further said that three cases each were reported in Sanghar and Shaheed Benazirabad while two cases each were reported in Mirpur Khas and Jacobabad and one case each in Dadu, Jamshoro, Nowshero Feroze and Sujawal.

CM Murad appealed to the people to celebrate the upcoming Eid festival with simplicity, asking them to stay at homes.

“How can I celebrate Eid in the current situation? The prime minister should announce to celebrate Eid in a simple manner and not to go anywhere.”

“I have been accused of politicising the coronavirus,” he said. “Yes, I do practice politics to save people lives. It is due to lock down that the health care system is not overburdened today.”



The chief minister said that he had apprised the assembly of attempts to sabotage and play with people’s lives.

“Many people are involved in misreporting the actual numbers of coronavirus cases,” he said. “It is not only misreporting but it is also fraud.”

He further said that the formation of the National Finance Commission (NFC) is unconstitutional and a letter has been written to the prime minister to withdraw the notification. Terms of reference (TORs) of the NFC commission are also unconstitutional.