-Confirmed coronavirus cases
-Punjab reports first case in Lahore
-13 pilgrims released from Taftan center tested positive in Sukkur
By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose to 53 in Pakistan after 20 new cases were reported in the country on Sunday. Five of the new cases have been reported in Karachi, 13 in Sukkur, while one new case emerged in Islamabad.
In Islamabad, the husband of the woman who had been admitted to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) after showing symptoms of the virus, has also been reported to have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to PIMS officials, the couple has been kept in separate isolation wards. PIMS officials said the number of patients under treatment at the hospital is now four.
Five new cases were reported in Karachi, taking the city’s toll to 22 and Sindh’s total number of cases to 35, with two patients recovering.
Sindh Health department tweeted that it has received four new cases of COVID-19 in Karachi. Three patients had returned from Saudi Arabia and were tested positive, while one patient who was diagnosed with the virus had no recent travel history.
Later in the day, Murtaza Wahab, the Sindh chief minister’s adviser on law, said that yet another case has emerged in the city. The patient hails from Balochistan and arrived in Karachi yesterday.
The number of novel coronavirus cases globally stood at 154,620 with 5,796 deaths, across 139 countries and territories at 0900 GMT Sunday, according to a tally compiled by media from official sources.
Between the tally at 1700 GMT on Saturday and the latest figures on Sunday, there were 32 more deaths reported and 2,839 new cases. The tallies, using data collected by AFP offices from national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO), take into account the fact that criteria for counting victims and coronavirus screening practices vary from country to country.
China excluding Hong Kong and Macau where the epidemic was declared in late December, has to date declared 80,844 cases, for 3,199 deaths, with 66,911 people recovered. The country declared 20 new cases and 10 new fatalities between Saturday and Sunday. Outside China, there had been 2,597 deaths by Sunday 22 since Saturday for 73,780 cases, 2,819 of them new.
The worst-hit nation after China is still Italy with 1,441 deaths for 21,157 cases, Iran with 611 fatalities (12,729 cases), Spain, with 183 deaths for 5,753 cases and France, with 91 deaths and 4,499 cases. Sindh’s Information Minister Nasir Shah on Sunday rebutted rumours of any lockdown in the province amid coronavirus threat. Reacting on the rumours of lockdown, Shah in his statement said, there is no reality in the news floating on the various sections of the social media about lockdown amid coronavirus in Sindh.
“Nothing to worry as situation is under control”, the minister said in his statement. The government has taken enough steps to deal with the deadly virus outbreak, no need to store groceries, he added. Syed Nasir Shah assured people of the province that PPP government is capable enough to deal with any situation.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed the chief secretary to write a letter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take action against the elements, spreading disinformation on the social media about lockdown in Sindh.
Earlier on Saturday, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah had imposed complete ban on visits/travel of all the government officers with immediate effect.
According to sources, the CM Sindh had directed the public officers to participate in the meetings through video conference. He directed the Sindh chief secretary to inform the federal government about the decision.
Services Hospital Lahore Medical Superintendent Dr Saleem Shehzad Cheema was removed from his post on Sunday for his mishandling of the coronavirus situation. Services Hospital was designated by the Punjab health department as the focal hospital for coronavirus but the counter for patients was empty. Dr Cheema has been told to report to the health department. Former Jinnah Hospital medical superintendent Dr Iftikhar Ahmed has replaced him.
The Punjab government has issued notifications about these changes. The health department says it received complaints against Dr Cheema. People coming from Sheikhupura found that there were no facilities at the hospital. They said when they came to the hospital, doctors told them not to enter the wards and go to the coronavirus counter instead. They found that the counter was closed with a notice directing them elsewhere.
