Coronavirus Update: Above average fatalities in Sindh

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

At least seven COVID-19 patients on average had died every day through last week in Sindh as the authorities in the government confirmed eight new deaths on May 3, pushing the provincial total of fatalities to 130, out of 7,465 infections, since March 21 when the first related death was reported. 

According to official data updated on May 3, Sindh reported the biggest increase in the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in a week as 2,850, as about 38% of the total cases reported in in the province. The average number of new cases per day came as 407 through the week (April 27 to May 3).

The authorities, however, did not release the details of the patients who lost their life during the last 24 hours ending at 8 am on May 3. 

Even there was no information about the district wherein the deceased lived in, leave alone their age, gender and place of treatment, either a public or private hospital or home. 

As per data, four patients died on April 27, seven on April 28, nine on April 29, 12 (the all days’ highest) on April 30, six on May 1, four on May 2 and eight on May 3. 

As many as 65,052 people, including expatriates, pilgrims and tableeghi jamat members, have been tested for confirmation of coronavirus across the province so far. A total 363 new infections were confirmed on May 3 while 3,032 tests were conducted. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his message, revealed that 5,780 patients were under treatment at the moment in the province (4638 at homes, 615 at isolation centres and 527 at hospitals)  out of which 76 were in critical conditions while 15 were shifted to ventilators. 

The districts which reported new cases on May 3 included Karachi (249), Larkana (30), Ghotki (25), Hyderabad (13), Shaheed Benazirabad (10), Khairpur (10), Shikarpur (10), Jacobabad (10), Sukkur (8), Matiari (2) and Dadu (1).

In the meantime, a senior health official in Islamabad said that situation was getting alarming everywhere in the country and it seemed that May could be a difficult month across provinces. 

He expected the COVID-19 peak in the country by early June and steady decline thereon. “Few months of relief and then a challenging winter unless any effective treatment emerges,” he warned.