COVID positivity rate among cold, cough patients in Karachi recorded 30%

Amid the ongoing cold wave in Karachi, the COVID-19 positivity rate among patients experiencing cold and cough symptoms has been recorded at 30%, Geo News reported on Saturday.

According to Professor Saeed Khan, an infectious disease specialist at Dow University Hospital, a significant number of people in the city are suffering from cold, cough, and fever.

Tests reveal that 25% to 30% of these patients are positive for COVID-19. Additionally, 10% to 12% of patients are diagnosed with Influenza H1N1, while 5% to 10% of children are suffering from respiratory tract infections.

Professor Khan noted that the symptoms of COVID-19, Influenza H1N1, and other winter-related viral infections are similar. Many patients refrain from testing, leading to undiagnosed cases of these illnesses.

Additional Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Dr Nizam Sheikh said that 200 viral infection patients are treated daily at Civil Hospital, while Jinnah Hospital receives 150 to 200 such cases daily.

However, a spokesperson for the Sindh Health Department revealed that public hospitals currently lack COVID-19 testing facilities. Since the decline of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have largely stopped getting tested.

Medical experts have advised citizens to adopt preventive measures to protect themselves from viral infections and other illnesses. They emphasised wearing masks, keeping oneself covered, and getting an annual influenza vaccine.