Corona infection spree continues unhindered

ISLAMABAD: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 16,473 on Thursday with 361 deaths till 12:14am. Of the total 16,473 confirmed cases, Sindh reported 6,053 cases, Punjab 6,340, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) 2,313, Balochistan 1,049, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) 313, Gilgit-Baltistan 339 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 66.

Of the total 361 deaths Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 122 deaths so far followed by Sindh 112, Balochistan 14, and Gilgit-Baltistan three, Punjab 106, and Islamabad Capital Territory four.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza Sunday said the government will launch a programme for protection of medical staff working on the frontlines, media reports say.

Mirza said the country was now producing its own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) but it had been observed that the PPE was "not being used rationally" in some places.

"We will train medics on the proper use of PPE," he said, adding that government would also provide psychological support to those working on the front lines.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases went up to 6,220 in the Punjab with the addition of 396 new cases. The death toll in the province rose to 109 on Thursday with the addition of nine more cases.

Four deaths were reported in Lahore, three in Multan and two in Gujranwala during the last 24 hours.

Out of total 106 deaths, 53 were reported in Lahore, 24 in Rawalpindi, 14 in Multan, four in Gujranwala, three each in Faisalabad and Gujrat, two each in Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan and one each in Attack, Sargodha, Rajanpur and Toba Tek Singh.

Nishtar Hospital, Multan reported four deaths on Thursday including three corona positive and one female suspected patient at the isolation ward. The deceased were identified as Irshad Ali, 50, Muhammad Hafiz 88, and Bilal Hussain, 60. All were residents of Multan.

A corona suspect woman Nazish, 30, of Mailsi, died at Nishtar Hospital isolation ward. Her blood screening report was still awaited. She was admitted to the isolation ward after visible symptoms of coronavirus.

There was also good news that three corona patients recovered and were discharged from the hospital, according to doctors.

Meanwhile, the Nishtar Hospital administration received a positive report of deceased Aslam.

Two patients were identified as Dr Rizwan of Muzaffargarh and a Morocon national M Esvi Alla Abad.

The Nishtar Hospital focal person, Dr Irfan Shahzad, said that the total admitted patients at isolation ward were 56 including 25 corona positive, 29 suspects and two negative.

Across Punjab on Thursday, out of total confirmed Covid-19 patients, 1,926 were preachers of Tablighi Jamaat, 768 pilgrims returning from Iran, 86 prisoners in nine districts and 3,441 citizens who either had travel history or fell victim to local transmission.

So far 79,914 tests have been performed in the province. As many as 1,850 patients have recovered and sent home. Presently, 27 serious patients are under treatment at High Dependency Units in public sector hospitals.

Meanwhile, twenty-two more COVID-19 patients were discharged on Thursday admitted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU).

Medical Superintendent Dr Khalid Randhawa said the patients were recovering on a daily basis adding that COVID-19 situation was under control in Rawalpindi and there was no need to panic.

Dr Khalid said doctors, including the para-medical staff, were playing a significant role to save the lives of people and urged people to stay at home and avoid move out unnecessarily.

He asked them to cooperate with the government and follow the health advisories properly to avoid any catastrophe.

In a related development, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah Thursday said 12 Covid-19 deaths were reported in the province during the past 24 hours that was the highest number so far.

In a statement issued by the CM House, he said: "We have had 112 deaths in 34 days; on an average, three patients have died from the virus every day since March 19 when the first death was reported in the province.

"This is quite worrisome," he said.

Meanwhile, Sindh Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah denied reports that the lockdown was being lifted.

Speaking to the media, he said: "The government's top priority at the moment is to safeguard people's lives. We are focused on saving human lives. We are aware that the people have sacrificed a lot but we are not willing to put their safety at risk."

In a related development, Matiari assistant commissioner, who performed duty during the governor's visit, was tested positive for the coronavirus, according to lab reports.

Saeedabad AC Ammar Hussain Rizvi was among the officials who had performed duties during the visit of Sindh Governor Imran Ismail.

Rizvi has been quarantined in a facility located in his own office, an administration official said.

Unconfirmed reports said he had come into contact with some pilgrims as well.

Meantime, hundreds of labourers gathered outside a garment factory in the District East to protest against their forced layoff.

They came to receive salaries but they were verbally told that the factory no longer required their services due to the financial losses.

"It's happening all over Pakistan [nowadays]. Labourers, especially daily wagers, and contract employees are being laid off without any notice," said Shams-ur-Rehman Swati, President of National Labour Federation (NLF), a conglomerate of different labour unions in Pakistan.

"Every day, hundreds of labourers are being laid off across the country since the government imposed the lockdown last month," Swati told Anadolu Agency.

Meanwhile, the corona cases in Balochistan rose to 1,049 with addition of 18 new cases, according to Liaquat Shahwani, spokesperson for the government.

In a tweet, he said, “18 new cases of #Corona reported. Total cases reported today 71. Total Local transmission 898, total cases 1049, recovered 183, deaths 14,”

Shahwani reaffirmed that the government was determined to tackle, contain and defeat COVID-19.

“We have to unite against the virus. Ple must stay at the homes during lockdown and follow orders of Govt for a better and safe environment, without covid-19,” he said in the tweet.

Addressing a press conference, he said: "If people do not abide by the government's SOPs and guidelines, we will be compelled to take stricter measures."

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the number of healthcare workers infected with Covid-19 has reached 103, according to a health department report.

The infected employees include 51 doctors, 14 nurses and 38 other health staff.

The provincial government has extended public holidays until May 15 in view of the coronavirus pandemic, while most other restrictions previously announced will continue, with milk and yoghurt shops no longer required to close by 4pm.

Meanwhile, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar Thursday assured that the country's Covid-19 situation was "not out of control".

He said Pakistan's trend was different from European countries so the country was doing its own modelling.

"It is true that we have a big number of cases and deaths. The number of deaths will increase in the coming days but our situation is not as bad as other countries," he said.

He said easing of the lockdown after May 9 depended on whether people were following the restrictions and social distancing measures.