88 coronavirus patients in Sindh, says Murad

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in a press conference on Monday said that coronavirus patients tally in the province has jumped to 88 and there were only 25 coronavirus patients under treatment in the province.

With 11 new coronavirus cases have emerged in Sindh among people that were quarantined at Taftan and recently arrived in Sukkur, no patient in Sindh is in critical condition, he said.

He clarified that no Chinese origin case has been reported in Sindh. He said out of 393 tests conducted before the arrival of Taftan pilgrims only 27 came positive and two of them are even discharged with remaining are under the vigilant treatment.

Few suspected patients are placed in their isolation wards in their homes, he said.

Claiming to be fully aware of the situation after the novel coronavirus outbreak, Murad Shah said five cases were Saudi Arabia origin, eight were Syrian origin, three Dubai origin and five Iran origin cases were reported. One from Qatar and one from Balochistan are also reported while there are five native cases of the novel coronavirus.

The Sindh government has itself bought 10,000 diagnostic kits to confirm the coronavirus symptoms, the CM said and added the availability of kits are not an issue but to arrange the tests are a real challenge.

“In Sukkur 61 cases were reported and results of 23 have just received of which 11 came positive and 12 negative. I want to tell the people of Sukkur that they should not get panicked as the Sindh government is fully aware on the matter,” the CM maintained.

Murad said to conduct one test it needs seven to eight hours and it is no possible to conduct tests of all cases due to limited resources. The coronavirus machine can only conduct maximum 200 cases a day. Tests are being conducted of only those people having any travel history and not every person with COVID-19 will be admitted to a hospital, the CM said.

A Taskforce on Coronavirus has already been working under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.

Sindh Information Minister Murtaza Wahab tweeted: “Another 11 have tested positive. These patients came to Sukkur from Taftan & were purportedly kept in quarantine at the border. So the total patients affected by coronavirus has reached 88 now. All these patients are being kept in isolation.”

Another 11 have tested positive. These patients came to Sukkur from Taaftaan & were purportedly kept in quarantine at the border. So the total patients affected by corona virus has reached 88 now. All these patients are being kept in isolation.

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) March 16, 2020