Hotspots of the city may be closed completely 

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that 209 new cases of coronavirus have emerged in the last 24 hours, out of which 132 are from Tablighi Jamaat, and 77 reside in the city’s slums.

In his video message, the CM noted that 2372 tests had been conducted in the past 24 hours, out of which 209 cases tested positive for the virus. The tests conducted so far add up to 21,272. The final case count stands at 2217.

Shah disclosed that two more coronavirus patients died due to the infection. The number of deaths so far has reached 47, which is 2.1%, he said, adding that 1589 patients were still under treatment, including 872 were in home isolation, 469 in the isolation centers, and 248 in hospitals.

He said that five patients recovered completely and were sent back home with a certificate of recovery. He added that 581 patients had recovered so far, which was 26% of the patients.

The Chief Minister said 4653 people from the Tablighi Jamaat had been tested for the coronavirus. According to the results, 429 tested positive, while the results of 91 are yet to be declared.

He said that the confirmed cases of the Tablighi Jamaat had been kept in isolation; therefore, they would be unable to spread the virus, adding that those who tested positive and are roaming around freely were the real threat.

The Chief Minister also noted that 77 new cases were detected from the slums of the city.

Giving a district-wise break up of 77 cases, the Chief Minister confirmed 30 cases from Lyari, Kharadar, Lee Market, Burns Road, and Kalapul, Shoe Market, Saddar, and Garden areas. Sixteen cases were detected from Gulbahar, Johar, Sharif Colony, Khalil Colony, and KECHS. The Korangi district reported six cases from Nasir Colony, Shareef Colony, Faisal Colony, and the PIA Society. District Malir noted six cases from Landhi and Gulshan-e-Hadeed. The District West reported eight cases from Afghan Basti, Katchiabadis, Northern Bypass, and Baldia. The Central District reported 11 cases with most of them from the slum areas. The CM said that the Central District was densely populated; therefore, more precautionary measures should be taken by the residents of the area.

The Chief Minister said that under the new strategy, the hotspots where more cases were being detected, would be closed completely. “I am quite upset with the spread, therefore without observing complete social distancing and isolation, we would not be able to contain the virus," he said, adding that the collection of samples from the hotspots of the city has been increased.

Addressing overseas Pakistanis, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that according to the data available, the Pakistanis living abroad had been affected by the coronavirus more than the Pakistanis living in the country.

-MN Report