KARACHI: As Sindh reported 50 new cases of the novel coronavirus, a team of medics from China met Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday to share Beijing's successes, as well as the experience, to contain the pandemic, which has so far infected more than 4,200 people in Pakistan and left over 60 dead.
As of reporting time, the provincial government had conducted 758 new tests, of which 50 samples were diagnosed as positive. The number of totals tests has risen to 10,981, as opposed to 10,223 the day before.
The nine-member delegation of medical experts from China, headed by Ma Minghui, urged Shah to continue ensuring that people were practising social distancing as it was one of the key measures to make sure the virus did not spread. A strict lockdown in the People's Republic helped bring everything brought under control, they added.
The visiting delegation underscored that food ration distribution drives should also be carried out in isolation as crowds of any kind would destroy the efforts being taken to curb the virus spread.
The chief minister responded by saying he had ordered closure of all government offices, schools, business centers, factories, and public transport. "This is why we have contained it but still we have t to more measures to save our people,” he noted.
Shah lamented that a shortage of testing kits and equipment made it difficult for the provincial government to conduct tests on everyone. "We are testing those who have travel history and family members of the positive cases” for now, he explained.
The health experts assured CM Shah that they would provide expertise and other equipment to the provincial government.
Speaking during his daily video briefing from the CM House, the chief minister said 50 more cases of coronavirus had been detected in Sindh, bringing the provincial tally to 1,036, while two patients passed away over the past 24 hours, raising the provincial toll to 20.
The number of totals tests has risen to 10,981, as opposed to 10,223 the day before. Of the 1,036 who had tested positive for the coronavirus, 382 were in self-isolation and 97 at isolation centers, he said. Another 257 were being treated at different hospitals throughout the province.
At least 637 of the 1036 cases were locally transmitted, Shah noted.
Starting from one case of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, on February 26, the number shot to 1,000 in 30 days, as of March 25, he added.
A week later, on April 1, the number of cases rose to 2,000, and in less than a week from the month's start, they shot to 3,000. A day later, as of April 8, Pakistan's tally of positive cases has gone beyond 4,000, he underlined, adding that the strategy, therefore, must be based on ground realities.
The chief minister once again urged people to observe social distancing measures as advised by experts. He added that it was critical to ensure that laws and advice must be followed during the remaining days under the lockdown as the restrictions would be eased by April 14.
Noting the importance of Shab-e-Barat as a night of prayers and forgiveness, the CM said those who wished to offer prayers should do so at their own homes and make duas for the departed souls.
Shah also urged Ulemas to explain importance of Shab-e-Barat on TV channels so that everyone could listen and understand at home.
Separately, Karachi police chief Ghulam Nabi Memon said earlier today the citizens would not be allowed to visit graveyards for Shab-e-Barat and that the authorities had set up 200 checkpoints to ensure the daily lockdown was observed.
A day prior, the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) had urged people to observe a Shab-e-Tauba — night of forgiveness — instead of a Shab-e-Barat, noting that everyone should pray at home and that congregations in mosques would not be allowed.
The PUC had earlier told people to avoid public gatherings, cooperate with the government, and heed the experts' safety precautions.
CM Shah also participated in a Prime Minister Imran Khan-led meeting through video link, wherein he suggested that people coming from abroad via international flights should be quarantined at nearby hotels. While it was the federal government's responsibility, he said the provincial leadership would help the center.
The chief minister also proposed that the federal government should issue standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the post-lockdown period. A new discipline of life would have to be made lest things went out of control, he warned.
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