Virus rears head in Sindh govt

CM, minister, two MPAs test positive; Hyderabad registers 18% positive detection rate

HYDERABAD:

With the second wave of the pandemic making inroads across the country, the virus reared its head in the upper ranks of the Sindh government on Monday, as Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and provincial industries and commerce minister Jam Ikramullah Dharejo tested positive for Covid-19 on the day.

Two MPAs belonging to Sindh's ruling Pakistan Peoples Party - Sharjeel Inam Memon and Faqir Sher Mohammad Bilalani - were also diagnosed with the coronavirus on the same day, while a total of 848 new infections emerged in the province on Monday. Four more coronavirus patients also passed away in Sindh.

According to the Sindh government and a party spokesperson, all four infected politicians isolated themselves at their residences soon after receiving their test results.

Regarding the CM, his spokesperson stated that Shah had experienced a light fever on Friday and therefore got a polymerase chain reaction test done for Covid-19.

The CM has isolated himself at his home, said a statement issued by the CM House, adding that he had a light fever but no serious symptoms. It may be mentioned here that Shah, who actively led the efforts to control the coronavirus at the time of its outbreak in Sindh earlier this year, also lost his brother-in-law to the virus.

The Sindh Industries and Commerce Minister, too, was found to have Covid-19 after he experienced light fever. Moreover, MPA Memon, who is also the focal person for Covid-19 efforts in Hyderabad, appeared to have tested positive for the virus for the second time, after first being diagnosed with it in June.

Worrying trend

Meanwhile, Hyderabad once again recorded a worryingly high positive detection ratio on Sunday, while also reporting over 100 infections in a day for the third time within six days.

On Sunday, with 609 samples from the district tested for the virus in different laboratories, 109 people were diagnosed with the virus - a positive detection ratio of nearly 18 per cent. This worrying statistic broke Hyderabad's earlier record of 16 per cent from last week. On November 11, 104 positive cases had surfaced, while 108 were recorded on November 13.

On November 8, the National Command and Operation Centre had claimed that 15 major cities had a high virus positivity ratio, with Hyderabad at the top of the list with 16.59 per cent. The Sindh government, however, had termed this claim incorrect.

On Monday, Sindh saw 848 new cases emerging from 11,596 samples, with a 7.3 per cent detection rate.

Waiting for action?

Though the Sindh government was lauded for its initiative in imposing virus-related restrictions and lockdowns when the coronavirus first made itself known in Pakistan at the end of February, it appears to be slower in taking action this time around.

Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that the provincial government was avoiding making its own decisions to deal with the pandemic, instead waiting for the federal government to take the first steps.

"We will implement the decisions made by the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on the matter," said an official in the health department, on the condition of anonymity, adding that the situation was getting worse by the day. "But be it a lockdown or a smart lockdown, we will follow whatever the NCC decides."

Another health official in Hyderabad, who requested anonymity, told The Express Tribune that they had been suggesting the enforcement of a smart lockdown in certain localities. However, he added, the provincial government seemed to be avoiding such a step.

Sticking to SOPS

In Hyderabad, authorities put their heads together to work out a plan to deal with the contagion on Monday.

During a meeting chaired by MPA Memon - who himself tested positive for the coronavirus later in the day - it was decided to focus on more effective enforcement of the standard operating procedures already in place.

At the meeting, Memon said mosque and imambargah managements would be asked to strictly practice social distancing, adding that transport authorities would also ensure that passengers are seated with the required gaps.

He further directed assistant commissioners and their teams to shut down all restaurants, markets and shops other than pharmacies by the given time.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2020.