Coronavirus Update: Infections rise again after three-day dip

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh’s overall COVID-19 fatality tally was witnessed inching to 2,300 on August 11 when the authorities in the government confirmed registration of nine more deaths due to the lethal virus, with 429 more positive cases.

The death figure reached to 2,290, while, after a dip in for three days, Sindh’s daily infections again rose during the last 24 hours ending August 11. 

According to data, on August 8 the daily number of cases was recorded 300 for the province, which gradually decreased to 278 by August 10. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in a statement on August 11 shared the COVID-19 data, saying only 383 (8%) of the 4,629 active patients were hospitalized across Sindh, including 248 undergoing the critical phase of illness, while 38 were put on ventilators during the last 24 hours.  He said that 10,050 samples were tested on August 10, with 4.26% positivity rate. 

According to the breakdown of new COVID-19 cases shared in the statement on August 11, Karachi had registered the maximum of 200 cases, which was 47% of the overall daily new cases, followed by Sanghar (24), Kashmore (24), Jamshoro (18), Hyderabad (15), Umerkot (14), Ghotki (12), Khairpur (11), Shikarpur (10), Sujawal (8), Larkana (7), Tando llahyar (7), Jacobabad (6), Mirpurkhas (6), Shaheed Benazirabad (5), Badin (4), Naushero Feroze (4), Kambar Shadadkot (2), Tando Mohammad Khan (1) and Thatta (1).

An official report revealed that 15 COVID-19 laboratories at Karachi conducted 4,218 tests on August 10 to find 299 positive cases, while another three laboratories at Hyderabad and Larkana examined 5,832 samples, with 289 positive cases.

According to the report, nine patients had lost their lives to COVID-19 at Karachi and one at Shaheed Benazirabad on August 10.

Surprisingly, neither the Chief Minister’s statement nor any official from the Sindh health department gives any details about the hospitalization, district, age and gender of the deceased person on a daily basis.