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Karachi, March 18, 2020 (PPI-OT): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that 208 patients of coronavirus, 57 in Karachi and 151 at Sukkur, are under treatment. Presiding over a Task Force meeting on Coronavirus, he said the situation is worrisome. The meeting was told that the samples of 303 pilgrims of Taftan /Sukkur were taken for test, of them 151 were negative while 151 were diagnosed as positive and one result was pending.
Similarly, 573 samples of Karachi and other districts were taken, of them 516 were declared as negative and 57 as positive. At present 57 patients in Karachi are under treatment while 151 are being treated in Sukkur. Commissioner Sukkur Shafiq Mahesar told the meeting that 757 pilgrims from Taftan have arrived at Sukkur in 18 buses and they were sent to quarantine.
The meeting was told that the government hospitals in Sindh have reported 1874 suspects/pneumonia patients, of them 28 patients are tested. The private hospitals of the province reported 702 suspects with samples of pneumonia, of them eight had severe symptoms and their tests were being conducted.
The chief minister was told that 10,660 pilgrims have arrived from Saudi Arabia from March 8, 2020. The immigration authorities have provided their lists to the health department. The chief minister directed health department to send them messages on their mobile phones with the advice to stay in isolation for 14 days at their homes and in case of symptoms they must inform the health department.
The meeting was also told that 44 pilgrims have returned from Iran illegally and had reached at Turbat where they have been stopped. The chief minister directed deputy commissioner Kambar-Shahdadkot to receive them in his limits and then send them to Sukkur for treatment.
Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shahalwani said that he has spoken with the federal government to set up an Isolation Center and field hospital at Expo Center. The federal government has agreed in principle and few formalities were pending there which would be completed by the late evening.
The chief minister directed the commissioner to make necessary arrangements for beds and other required equipment for Expo center facility. The commissioner also said that at his control room they have received 866 complaints, including 139 on WhatsApp number. DG PDMA Salman Shah told that he has started registration pf volunteers to assist the PDMA in relief work all over Sindh. He said that 1000 volunteers have got themselves registered with PDMA on its website.
For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Chief Minister House, Sindh
Tel: +92-21-99202019(Ext: 336)
Website: www.cmsindh.gov.pk