Pakistan reports sixth coronavirus case in Sindh

KARACHI: The sixth of coronavirus has been confirmed in Sindh, said Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza on Thursday .

Taking to Twitter the PM's aide said:  "6th case of #coronavirus in Pakistan is confirmed."

 "The patient is in clinically stable condition in Sindh and is being well taken care of," he added.

Earlier, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was told during a meeting at the CM House on Thursday that another person had contracted the novel coronavirus from Karachi.

The chief minister reportedly directed the provincial government to have all those who came into contact with the person tested for the virus.

The Sindh government has been grappling with the coronavirus problem as tww cases of the novel virus were confirmed in Pakistan last week, one in Karachi.

“We have received reports of two more positive cases of coronavirus, one has been reported in Sindh province, (the) other in federal areas,” Dr Mirza had said during a press conference.

The virus has entered 76 countries and claimed more than 3,100 deaths and infecting over 80,000 people around the world ever since it began spreading from the wet markets of Wuhan in China.

As a precautionary measure, the Sindh government had directed all schools, colleges, universities, tuition centres and other educational institutions to remain closed till March 13.

The provincial government suspended several schools' registrations for remaining open despite the Sindh government's orders.

Dr Mirza had said that two among the five patients affected with the virus were stable and improving with each passing day. He had said that one of the patients would soon be discharged from the hospital.

The federal government is also undertaking measures to contain the virus, which has caused more than 100 deaths in neighbouring Iran. Screening of patients is being conducted at all entry points and airports. Isolation wards in hospitals have been set up to ensure proper medical care is being provided to coronavirus patients.