Coronavirus Update: Apprehension of momentum gain in Karachi

By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Amidst apprehension that COVID-19 was gaining momentum again in Sindh, Karachi’s daily infection rate remained almost static, though on the higher side, on October 2 when the authorities confirmed another 316 cases, with five related deaths, during the last 24 hours.

The health authorities at Karachi registered 70.5% new cases out of Sindh’s daily tally of October 2. Earlier the megapolis reported 249 (69%) new cases on October 1, 221 (71%) on September 30, 297 (74%0 on September 29 and 185 (73.7% on September 27. 

With five new relevant deaths the fatality tally for the province was pushed to 2,517 on October 2. However, no data and information related to deaths or cases specific status of districts were available on the Sindh health department’s website. 

The only source of information relevant to COVID-19 was the Sindh Chief Minister’s statement which, according to an observer, was too little in this direction. 

He suggested to the government to ensure a timely and fair dissemination of updates on the diseases and improve its monitoring system at the airports and other entry points and gathering spots, to avert any massive second spell of COVID-19 in the province. 

Meanwhile in his daily COVID-19 statement, Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah on October 2, shared that there were 4,536 active patients of the infection across Sindh, including 4250 in home isolation, seven in designated isolation centres and 270 at hospitals, adding thath ealth condition of 200 patients was critical while 37 were put on ventilators. 

In all 12,990 samples were tested during the 24 hours ending 8 am on October 2, while the district wise breakdown of new positive cases came as: Karachi (223), Hyderabad (9), Badin (8), Dadu (5), Kambar Shahdadkot (5), Jamshoro (4), Larkana (3), Ghotki (2), Matiari (2), Tando Mohammad Khan (2), Mirpurkhas (1), Naushero Feroze (1), Sukkur (1), Tando Allahyar (1), Thatta (1), and others. 

Sindh registered 57% of the new cases recorded in the country on October 2, while 62% of the deaths. In the meantime, the national COVID-19 dashboard's graphics showed Sindh’s new cases as 677 new fatalities as 18 for October 1, which, according to a keen observer, needed to be rechecked.