Death toll hits 58 as cases spike in Balochistan

272 fresh infections emerge as CM seeks treatment protocol at primary and secondary level

QUETTA: Balochistan on Monday reported another 272 new cases of Covid-19, spiking the total number of cases in the province to 6,788 with 58 confirmed deaths.

According to the daily situation report of the Balochistan Health Directorate, 97% of the total cases in Balochistan are locally transmitted. The active cases in the province currently stand at 4,370.

It is highly probable that 54 additional deaths in the province might be linked to Covid-19 but have not been confirmed yet.

Currently, 2,360 patients have recovered in Balochistan after being infected by the virus whereas 47 more patients have recovered after testing negative twice. Approximately 35 percent of the total infected patients have recovered.

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As per GoB health department’s latest figures, tests of 32,322 people have been conducted out of which 6,788 have tested positive for Covid-19 while 25,534 have tested negative.

The health department still awaits results of 274 cases, according to the provincial health directorate spokesperson.

Over 800 people are still placed in different quarantine centers throughout the province, including 254 in Taftan, 290 in Pishin, 281 in Jaffarabad and 204 in Lasbela.

On the other hand, Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal, while addressing a meeting regarding Covid-19 preventive measures stated that, “the coronavirus exposes our health care system’s weaknesses. Complete implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) is a guarantee to achieving a successful smart lockdown, otherwise the lockdown will cause more harm than good”.

He instructed the concerned authorities to ensure implementation of the smart lockdown in the province, ordering commissioners and their deputies belonging to 33 districts to take strict action on the violation of SOPs.

“In light of the prevailing challenge and hazard of coronavirus, GoB is planning to bring a progressive and better change in the primary health care system of the province.” Kamal said, promising to fulfill all the demands of the Regional Blood Center.

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The provincial chief executive also advised the institute of public health to prepare a Covid-19 treatment protocol at primary and secondary level. “Number of pandemic affected patients is much higher but the death ratio of the disease is low fortunately”.

The meeting was also informed that from now onwards people will have to survive along with the epidemic, but it is imperative for them to follow the government’s instructions and take all precautionary measures.

Upon asking about the screening facilities, the CM was told that 1,500 people can be screened in Fatima Jinnah Chest and General Hospital, 50 at Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zaid and 24 at Bolan Medical Complex Quetta.

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