63 more perish due to Covid across the country

KARACHI: Red flags have gone up across Pakistan as over 4,272 Covid-19 cases were reported for the first time since May 21, with the highest mortality of 63, during the last 24 hours. The positivity rate was recorded at a whooping 7.8 percent. Previously, 4,007 cases were recorded on May 21.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre, 52,291 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours. Punjab reported 617 cases, 14 deaths, Islamabad, 279 cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 261 cases, five deaths, Balochistan, 180 cases, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 167 cases, 4 deaths and Gilgit-Baltistan, 98 cases, three deaths.

There is an issue of reconciliation of the viral figures from the NCOC and those by the Sindh government. While the Sindh government releases the official figures at 8pm, the NCOC does at 2pm and the figures do not match. The NCOC gets to add the new figures the next day at 2pm. According to NCOC, Sindh at 2pm had 2,517 cases, 20 deaths, whereas the provincial government added 23 more deaths, totalling 43 and 155 new cases in its 5pm update, changing the national death toll to 63. Therefore, Sindh has the highest deaths in the last 24 hours, which has gone up to 43 which is the highest this year. Similarly, the number of infected stood at 2,672 in the last 24 hours. Sindh also reported its highest caseload since June 30, 2020, when it confirmed 2,701 cases. According to a statement, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the virus “is spreading rapidly. Covid-19 SOPs must be adhered to strictly.”

The Sindh government has ordered a 100-bed facility to be set up in Malir to isolate Covid-19 patients coming from abroad, while it authorised hospitals to recruit additional doctors, paramedics on temporary basis to meet with the increasing patient load.

Most hospitals in Karachi are becoming overwhelmed. The Sindh government was pondering to contact the federal government for clamping a fortnight long lockdown in Karachi in view of the widespread infection of Covid-19.