ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR/ KARACHI: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and fatalities in Pakistan rose to 62,700 and 1,283 respectively on Wednesday, as majority of people seem least bothered about observing the health protocols set by the government.
On Thursday, as many as 44 people died of complications related to coronavirus, while 2,622 new cases were reported.
Of the total 62,700 confirmed cases, Sindh reported 25,309 cases, Punjab 22,037, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 8,842, Balochistan 3,616, Islamabad Capital Territory 2,015, Gilgit-Baltistan 658, and AJK 223 as of 11:45pm.
Of 1,283 deaths, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 432 deaths, Sindh 396, Punjab 381, Balochistan 41, Gilgit-Baltistan 9, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) 19, and AJK 5. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the virus claimed seven more lives, including a journalist, on Thursday, taking the toll from the viral infection to 432.
Journalist Fakhruddin Syed was associated with a private news channel in Peshawar. He was admitted to the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) a few weeks ago after testing positive. The situation is getting worse and the number of infective people is increasing day by day.
KP has reported 359 positive cases, the highest number since the outbreak of the pandemic, bringing the number of the affected people from the viral infection to 8,842.
Of seven fatalities, two were reported from Peshawar, and one each from Mardan, Swat, Malakand, Abbottabad and Kohat. In KP and in rest of the country, Peshawar has suffered more than any other city in the country.
With the two latest fatalities, the number of human losses from coronavirus has reached 244 in KP. Swat is second after Peshawar with 37 fatalities, followed by Mardan with 25 deaths. The deaths reported every day by the government are the patients who die in hospitals.
According to the Health Department officials, the number of patients dying from coronavirus outside hospitals is much higher than those in the hospitals. Because of misconception and a lack of trust of the people in hospitals, people prefer not to take patients suffering from coronavirus to hospitals.
It is widely believed that patients taken to hospitals are not taken care of, and the health workers allegedly avoid them. A large number of patients have died of complications and symptoms similar to coronavirus in rural areas but they are not reported.
Of 259 positive cases, 114 were reported from Peshawar alone that brought the number of infective people to 3263 in the provincial capital. Other districts, including Swat reported 76 cases, Khyber 23, Malakand 20, Lower Dir and Abbottabad 12 each, Mardan 8, and Bajaur 7.
As of May 28, 2020, the case fatality rate in Pakistan was 2.05 as compared to yesterday's 2.07 (confirmed cases: 61227 including 2076 new confirmed cases, 1260 deaths, including 35 reported on Thursday. The case fatality rate in KP was 4.88 as compared to yesterday's 5.01, the highest in the country, with confirmed cases, 8842, and 432 fatalities.
The rate in Peshawar was 7.53 as compared to yesterday's 7.74, the highest in any city of Pakistan, with confirmed cases, 3263 and 246 fatalities. The case fatality rate slightly decreased in Pakistan, KP, and Peshawar as compared to yesterday.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah Thursday confirmed that for the first time, almost 2,000 patients had recovered from the coronavirus and returned to their homes over the past 24 hours since the emergence of the pandemic in the province.
With 1,924 people who recovered from the deadly infection, the total number of recoveries so far bumped up to 11,190, Shah said.
The chief minister added that 1,103 individuals were diagnosed as positive out of the 4,101 tests carried out over the past 24 hours; total number of tests conducted rose to 167,906, of which 25,309 were positive.
"About 13,723 patients are currently under treatment and 12,146 of them are self-isolating at their homes, 661 patients at isolation centres, and 916 are admitted in various hospitals in the province," he said.
Speaking of coronavirus patients with complications, Shah said 227 were in a critical condition in Sindh and 39 of them were on ventilators. The chief minister added that with 16 new deaths during the last 24 hours, the toll across the province had risen to 396.
Karachi had most of the 1,103 new cases, at 905. District-wise, 249 were from Malir, 201 from South, 175 from East, 131 from Central, 100 from Korangi, and 49 from West.
CM Shah said 32 new cases were from Hyderabad, 21 from Shikarpur, 20 from Larkana, 19 from Sukkur, 18 from Ghotki, 11 from Jacobabad, seven each from Jamshoro and Qambar Shahdadkot, four from Khairpur, two each from Dadu and Mirpurkhas, and one each in Naushero Feroze, Sanghar, Nawabshah, and Thatta.
Concluding the daily situational report of Sindh, Shah emphasised that cases were rising due to recklessness of the citizens. "Until we are not vigilant in implementing the standard operating procedures (SOPs), the epidemic will not be eliminated," he said. "It is better to strictly follow the precautionary measures than to regret later."
The chief minister also assured the traders of presenting their viewpoint regarding lifting the lockdown in the next meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC).
Shah made the commitment during a meeting with a delegation of traders. The business community's representatives urged the chief minister to lift the ban and allow all the business activities to continue in the province, assuring him of following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) as agreed earlier.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza Thursday said the prevailing situation of coronavirus in the country was not disastrous due to the government’s effective measures.
The testing capacity has been increased and that is why more patients of the COVID-19 have been reported, he said while talking to the state-run TV. He said the government was taking on broad the provincial governments regarding all the decisions to contain COVID-19.
The opposition parties instead of doing politics on the deadly virus should suggest measures to prevent spreading of the virus, he added. The special assistant said this was a new virus and nobody knew about its negative effects on the humans.
No medicine has been made till now to fight the disease, he added. He urged people to follow the Standard Operating Procedures, maintain social distancing, avoiding handshakes, wear masks, and gloves to keep themselves save.
