Sindh reports first COVID-19-related death

KARACHI: The health authorities in Sindh on Friday confirmed the first death due to COVID-19 in Karachi with 11 new cases of the viral disease and strongly advised the citizens to exercise complete social distancing by isolating themselves at their residences for the next three days to prevent contracting coronavirus and infecting others. With the new cases, the number of coronavirus-affected patients in the province has now risen to 249.

“With profound grief, I want to announce that a 77-year-old person died due to COVID-19 at a private hospital in Karachi on Thursday. The deceased was a cancer survivor and had other co-morbidities, including diabetes and hypertension. The patient did not have any travel or contact history,” Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazl Pechuho said on Friday and added that 11 more persons were tested positive for the viral disease on Friday. With the addition of 11 more people testing positive for the coronavirus in Sindh on Friday, the number of corona positive cases has now risen to 249, health authorities confirmed.

The Civil Hospital, Karachi, has also begun testing people for the Coronavirus after acquiring testing kits from the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad. The Aga Khan Hospital, Dow Medical Hospital (Ojha Campus) and Indus Hospital are officially recognised to conduct the tests in Karachi. In view of the growing incidence of COVID-19 cases, the Sindh government has announced a complete ban on gathering of four or more persons at a place in the entire province and warned that strict legal action would be initiated against those violating the ban.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, also urged the people to remain isolated at their homes for the next three days to keep themselves safe and prevent others from contracting the viral ailment. Praising the people of Sindh for their resilience, Murad Ali Shah said that the people of Pakistan were fighting against COVID-19 bravely. “Time has come to demonstrate a responsible attitude by observing voluntary social distancing and preferring to remain at homes,” he said.Expressing shock and displeasure over receptions and family gatherings being organized by some people at their homes, he said this is not the time for holding social gatherings but to remain secluded and observe social distancing.