Sindh witnessing ‘decline in Covid-19 positivity rate’

CM Murad Ali Shah thanks people for cooperating with authorities and decides to continue restrictions for now

KARACHI:

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has expressed satisfaction over measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the province and thanked the people for cooperating with the authorities in implementing Covid-19 SOPs.

The Covid-19 positivity rate has come down to 6.8 per cent from 8.63 per cent in the province. “If the support of the people continued with the same spirit, we will be able to contain the virus further in the province,” the CM said.

He made these remarks while presiding over a meeting of the Provincial Task Force on coronavirus on Thursday at CM House in Karachi.

The meeting was attended by provincial Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, Minister Industries Jam Ikram Dharejo, Adviser law Murtaza Wahab and other civil and military officials.

The chief minister was informed that in the first week after Eidul Fitr, (May 15 to 21) the infectivity rate was recorded at 8.63 per cent and the fatality rate at 1.18 per cent. In the second week after Eid (May 22 to 26), the positivity rate dropped down to 6.87 per cent and death rate to 0.90 per cent. The chief minister said that the Covid restrictions have started producing encouraging results.

“The credit goes to the people who cooperated with the government, abided by the SOPs and the restrictions imposed by the government, therefore infectivity and fatality rates have come down,” he said and urged people of the province to complying with the SOPs so that the situation remained under control.

On May 24, 846 cases were recorded across the province with 15% detection rate and within 15 days, up to June 11, 2020, the number of cases increased to 3,038 and the detection ratio was recorded at 30 per cent.

Also read: Sindh Covid-19 restrictions to remain in place for two more weeks

The reason for that spike in the cases was the result of flouting SOPs. CM Murad said that it was the reason that he had taken some strict actions during Eid holidays which have proved effective in flattening the coronavirus curve.

It may be noted that on May 20, 2021 infectivity rate in Karachi was 12.86, and in Hyderabad it was 10.11 per cent and on May 26 it has come down to 8.34 in Karachi and 4.42 in Hyderabad. In the Month of May 26, some 307 patients of Covid-19 lost their lives, of them 24 (66 %) were on ventilators, 43 (14 %) at home.

It was noted that during the last 23 days, (May 1 to 23), Karachi District East has 24 per cent cases, South 17 per cent, Central 12 per cent cases, West 11 per cent, and Hyderabad 11 per cent.

The meeting was told that till May 25, around 21,618 passengers had landed at Jinnah International Airport and all of them were tested, as a result, 50 or 0.23 per cent passengers were diagnosed with Covid-19. Out of 50 patients, 26 have recovered.

At present, 66 patients, including 63 in Karachi are in critical care. 618 patients, including 496 in Karachi are on oxygen.

The chief minister, keeping in view the situation decided to continue the ongoing restrictions and Covid SOPs and the situation would be reviewed again on Monday. He also urged people to get vaccinated. “It is very important to be safe and secure, otherwise we will not be able to contain the virus here,” he concluded.