Coronavirus Update: 236 new cases in Sindh

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh health authorities confirmed another 236 new coronavirus cases across the province, with two new deaths at Karachi, on April 17, taking the overall infection tally to 2,217 in the province. According to official data, Khairpur, which reported its first 14 coronavirus positive cases on April 8 and remained static in terms of cases till April 16, drew the attention on April 17 again for reporting 73 new cases. On the other hand, Umerkot was included in the list of coronavirus reporting districts of Sindh with a new positive case.

Karachi division remained on the top of list with 123 new cases and overall 1,290 cases, with 43 deaths. The city reported yet another two deaths, both men aged 77 and 53 years respectively, due to the virus, while eight more recovered the disease on April 17. 

The overall infection rate in Sindh remained 10.42 percent while the virus has spread in 23 districts while the district wise breakdown of cases was: Karachi (1,290), Sukkur reporting no new case (326), Hyderabad reporting no new case (197), Ghotki (126), Shaheed Benazirabad reporting no new cases (89), Khairpur (87), Tando Mohammad Khan (19), Larkana reporting no new cases (16), Naushehro Feroze (15), Sanghar (15), Dadu with no new case (11), Sujawal (9), Jamshoro with no new case (4), Badin (4), Tando Allahyar with no new case (4), Shikarpur with no new case (3), Umerkot (1) and Jacobabad with no new case (1). 

During the day, a coronavirus patient was discharged from the Karachi Expo Centre corona field hospital after he recovered from the diseases. 

In the meantime, the Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho directed the officers concerned to place in quarantine about 130 Pakistanis who returned via a flight from Oman on April 17. Earlier, the health officers collected samples from the passenger for coronavirus test at Karachi airport. 

The minister said that those testing positive will be retained for treatment under the arrangement of the health department, while the rest clearing the test will be provided with transports to continue their journey to upcountry.