Over 1,100 new Covid cases emerge

KARACHI:

Sindh reported more than 1,100 new coronavirus infections and 22 fatalities on Sunday, bringing the provincial pandemic death toll and tally of confirmed cases to 6,834 and 430,433, respectively.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's House, 1,165 persons were diagnosed when 15,112 tests were conducted, indicating a detection rate of 7.7 per cent.

Another 255 persons also regained health overnight, said CM Syed Murad Ali Shah, bringing the number of recoveries in the province thus far to 372,982.

Currently, there are 50,617 confirmed Covid patients in Sindh, said Shah. Of them, the condition of at least 781 patients is stated to be critical and 79 of them are on ventilators, he added.

Notification issued

Meanwhile, the Sindh home department notified afresh coronavirus restrictions for Karachi and Hyderabad in line with the National Command and Operation Centre's decisions.

According to the notification, commercial activities can continue till 8pm in Karachi and Hyderabad and till 10pm in the rest of the province. 'Safe days' with the closure of markets and businesses will be observed on Fridays and Sundays in Karachi and Fridays and Saturdays in Hyderabad. In other districts of the province only Friday will be observed as a 'safe day'.

These restrictions will not apply to essential services such as groceries, pharmacies, petrol pumps, bakeries, milk shops, among others, stated the notification. Public transport vehicles are restricted to seat passengers at 50 per cent capacity in Karachi and Hyderabad with strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and proof of vaccination, stated the notification.

Drivers, conductors and other transport staff must all be vaccinated, it added. In other districts of Sindh public transport vehicles seat passengers at 70 per cent capacity with SOPs and proof of vaccination. It added that indoor dining will remain shut in restaurants across Karachi and Hyderabad but outdoor dining may continue till 10pm.

However, diners and restaurant staff must carry their vaccination with them as random inspections can be conducted by law enforcement personnel at anytime, the notification stated.

Besides, indoor marriage ceremonies will remain banned in Karachi and Hyderabad but outdoor events limited to 300 people can be held till 10pm. In other districts, indoor events of maximum 200 people and outdoor events capped at 400 people are permitted.

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Moreover, shrines in Karachi and Hyderabad will remain sealed indefinitely, but in other districts the local authorities and the auqaf department may decide, the notification mentioned. Cinemas will remain closed across the province and religious, cultural, music and sports activities will remain banned, stated the notification.

Meanwhile, only vaccinated people are to be allowed inside indoor gyms. The same condition holds for amusement parks and public swimming pools across Sindh, with the exception of Karachi and Hyderabad where they will remain shut. It mentioned that golf and horse riding will be allowed.

Only public parks may open in Karachi and Hyderabad, stated the notification, adding that the district administrations have been empowered to impose micro lockdowns in areas with a higher rate of infection.

The notification stressed on adherence to SOPs and reiterated that wearing face masks in public places was mandatory. Only vaccinated persons will be allowed to visit tourist resorts, it stated, adding that the ban on serving food in domestic flights remains in place.

District-wise breakup

According to the statement issued by the Chief Minister's House, of the 1,165 new cases, 616 were detected in Karachi and 177 in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Badin reported 50 new cases, Thatta 36, Tharparkar 29, Mirpurkhas 27, Matiari 25, Shaheed Benazirabad and Tando Allahyar 24 each, Sanghar 23, Kashmore 18, Tando Muhammad Khan 16, Jamshoro 15, Sujawal 14, Umerkot 12, Dadu and Ghotki nine each, Sukkur eight, Larkana six, Khairpur two and Shikarpur and Jacobabad each reported one new case.