Control Covid, or be ready for tough decisions: CM

Eidul Azha, LG polls and Muharram gatherings may stoke spread of virus

KARACHI:

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that Covid positivity rate has shown an upward trend during the last week of June.

The fresh wave of contagion needs to be controlled before the advent of major events such as of Eidul Azha, local government elections and Muharram, otherwise the government would have no option but to take some tough decisions, the top executive of the province said chairing a crucial meeting over the pandemic situation.

"This situation can easily be controlled through adopting Covid SOPs such as wearing masks, avoiding handshake, ensuring social distancing and washing hands voluntarily," the CM said presiding over a Coronavirus Task Force meeting at CM House.

Officials informed the meeting that on June 17 the province had only 38 cases with a 3.6 per cent detection ratio and on the next day, June 18 the number of cases jumped to 122. Alarmingly, the cases went on increasing from 377 to 531 and 465 reported on June 30, officials said.

"The (Covid) situation is not alarming, it is worrisome," Murad said adding, "we need to control it through mass awareness." Minister Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho told the chief minister that currently out of 4,122 patients only 63 were in hospitals, of them 47 were in critical condition.

At this the chief minister said that it meant the hospitals were not under pressure.

Follow SOPs

Sindh Minister for Information Sharjeel Inam Memon made an appeal to the people to adopt precautionary measures and follow Covid standard operating procedure (SOPs) , wearing of mask and social distancing.

He urged upon people to get vaccinated and take booster shots as government is extending free of cost facility.