MOHAMMAD BILAL TAHIR

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that 208 patients of coronavirus, 57 in Karachi and 151 in Sukkur, are under treatment.

“The situation is not so serious, but it is worrisome, and we must adopt precautionary measures to stop its spread in our cities.”

This he said while presiding over the 21st Task Force meeting on coronavirus. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Dr Azra Pechuho, Saeed Ghani, Nasir Shah; Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, IG Sindh Mushtaq Maher, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Home Secretary Usman Chachar, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi, Dr Bari of Indus Hospital, Dr Faisal of Aga Khan Hospital, Faisal Edhi, Mushtaq Chhapra, DG PDMA Salman Shah, Focal Person MB Dharejo, representatives of Corps 5, Rangers, WHO, CAA, Airport and immigration/FIA.

The chief minister was told that the samples of 303 pilgrims of Taftan/Sukkur were taken for test, of them 151 came out as negative while 151 were diagnosed as positive and one result was pending. Similarly, 573 samples from Karachi and other districts were taken, of them 516 were declared as negative and 57 as positive. At this the chief minister said that it means we have 208 coronavirus-infected people.

New batch: Commissioner Sukkur Shafiq Mahesar told the chief minister that 757 pilgrims from Taftan have arrived in Sukkur in 18 buses and they all have been sent to their rooms where fruits, water had already been placed. The chief minister told the commissioner to start collecting their samples and send them to Karachi for test.

Suspects: The meeting was told that the government hospitals working all over Sindh had reported 1874 suspects/pneumonia patients, of them 28 patients were tested. The private hospitals of the province reported 702 suspects with samples of pneumonia, of them eight had severe symptoms of pneumonia and their tests were being conducted.

New batch from Saudi Arabia: The chief minister was told that a new batch of 10,660 pilgrims have arrived from Saudi Arabia since March 8, 2020. The immigration authorities have provided their list to the health department. The chief minister directed health department to send them messages on their mobile phones with the advice to stay in isolation at their homes and in case of symptoms they must inform the health department. He added that they have to complete 14 days in isolation.

Illegal arrival: The meeting was also told that 44 pilgrims have returned from Iran illegally and reached Turbat where they were intercepted. The chief minister directed deputy commissioner Kambar-Shahdadkot to receive them in his limits and then send them to Sukkur for treatment.

Isolation at Expo: Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani said that on the instructions of the chief minister he has spoken with the federal government to set up Isolation Center and field hospital at Expo Center. The federal government has agreed in principle and few formalities were pending there which would be completed by the late evening.

The chief minister directed the commissioner to make necessary arrangements for beds and other required items at the Expo center. “This would turn out to be a good facility at the center of the city,” he said.

The commissioner also said that at his control room he has received 866 complaints, including 139 on WhatsApp number.

Volunteers: DG PDMA Salman Shah told the chief minister that he has started registration of volunteers to assist the PDMA in relief work all over Sindh. He said that 1,000 volunteers have got themselves registered with PDMA on its website.

The chief minister said that the people of Sindh were demonstrating a very mature attitude. “I am quite happy that everyone is cooperating at his level and capacity,” he said and added it was quite encouraging.