Pandemic hits new high in Sindh

Highest single-day tally at 2,487 new cases, most deaths in a day so far

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah sounded alarm bells on Wednesday as the province saw the emergence of an astounding 2,487 cases and 42 infection-related deaths – the highest single-day numbers recorded so far.

Raising concerns over the worrying numbers, the CM said, “This is the highest number of cases reported in a day yet. The situation is turning out to be alarming.”

“The province has boosted its testing capacity, with 9,100 samples being tested between Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in 2,487 more cases - 27.3 of the tested samples and the highest ratio of single-day positive cases against tested samples recorded so far,” he said, adding that collective efforts were required to control the spiralling tally.



Shedding light on the geographical dispersion of the newly-reported cases, he said that 1,755 were reported from Karachi, comprising 498 from East district, 443 from South district, 409 from Central district, 173 from Malir, 117 from West district and 115 from Korangi. Moreover, he said, 80 new cases had emerged in Hyderabad, 69 in Ghotki, 43 in Sukkur, 40 in Larkana, 37 in Sanghar, 29 in Khairpur, 25 in Dadu, 25 in Jamshoro, 23 in Sujawal, 22 in Kashmore-Kandhkot, 17 in Shikarpur, 13 each in Mirpurkhas and Shaheed Benazirabad, 12 in Thatta, 11 each in Qambar-Shahdadkot and Tando Muhammad Khan, nine in Umerkot, eight in Jacobabad, four in Badin and one in Tando Allahyar.

Besides, with the virus claiming the lives of 42 more patients, the death toll stemming from the pandemic climbed to 738, he added. “Among the deceased so far, 12 were healthcare workers,” he stated.

The CM observed that even 15 days past Eid, the numbers of cases and deaths continued to rise exponentially.

“To add to it, the number of patients hospitalised have quadrupled over the past 15 days while the number of critically-ill patients has increased ten-fold during the same duration,” he noted.

According to him, there are currently 22,045 patients under treatment in the province, 20,471 of whom are in home isolation, 48 are in isolation centres and 1,526 in hospitals. Among those in hospitals, 493 are critically ill, including 77 on ventilators.



Speaking of fresh recoveries, he said that 1,111 more people had recuperated, raising the number of recovered patients to 21,007.

Testing capacity

According to the CM, the testing capacity of different laboratories in the province had been enhanced 110-fold, with Sindh going from a daily capacity of 80 tests to 9,000 tests.

The CM further stated that so far 225,000 tests had been conducted in the province, 80 per cent of which were done for free.

Treatment facilities

Giving details about Covid-19 treatment facilities in Sindh, the CM said the province had 203 hospitals, comprising 8,000 beds, for coronavirus patients. Among 8,000 beds reserved for coronavirus patients, 670 were in high dependency units and 334 in intensive care units, he added, claiming that the capacity was being further expanded.