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Karachi, March 10, 2020 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that in Sindh so far 15 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed as positive and all the cases are imported and none of them is indigenous. “It means we will have to be more cautious in checking the passengers coming from Iran, Afghanistan, Italy and such other countries at the airport and the suspect(s), if any, must be quarantined there instead of bringing him to the city.”
This he said on Tuesday while presiding over 13th meeting of Taskforce on Coronavirus here at CM House. The meeting was attended by Minister Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister Local Government Nasir Shah, Advisor Law Murtaza Wahab, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Maher, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shahalwani, Secretary Home Usman Chachar, Secretary Finance Hassan Naqvi, Secretary health Zahid Abbasi, DG PDMA Salman Shah, representatives of Corps 5, Rangers, FIA, Airport services, civil aviation, WHO, Aga Khan Hospital and Indus Hospital.
Chief Minister was told that 19 samples were tested, of them nine were diagnosed as positive while 10 declared as negative. Thus, the number of cases in Sindh have come to 15, including 14 in Karachi and one in Hyderabad. Two more samples have been sent for lab test and their results were being awaited.
The meeting was told that all the 14 patients under treatment were stable and were recovering. The health department has conducted 162 lab tests, of them 147 declared as negative while 15 diagnosed as positive. Two results are pending. The meeting was told that first patient had recovered and returned home while the other one, who was a high risk case/patient of 67 years old, has also recovered and diagnosed as negative on Tuesday and again he would be tested tomorrow. It was pointed out that 167 pilgrims were in quarantine at their homes. 25 of the quarantined pilgrims would complete their isolation on March 11, 34 on March 12, 66 March 13 and likewise.
The chief minister said that everyday around 4000 passengers land at Karachi airport, therefore arrangements for their screening must be made fool proof. He directed the chief secretary to talk to the federal government and request them to make quarantine arrangements at the airport for suspects of coronavirus. “I want none of the passenger with pneumonia or coronavirus symptoms be brought out of the airport and expose him/her to others,” he said.
The chief secretary told the chief minister that health department has posted 32 professionals at the airport. He said he was doubling the health dept staff at the airport so that every incoming passenger could be checked properly. On the instructions of the chief minister, the private hospitals shared the data of 691 patients and none of them was diagnosed as positive.
This kind of data from private hospital would be pouring in health department every day. The meeting decided that health education and screening desk would be established at Immigration Counters at Karachi airport. The health department professionals, doctors/paramedical staff would be given special training by WHO.
For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019(Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk