Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah Saturday directed closure of all the shrines, marriage lawns and cinema halls. Murad further ordered that educational process in Madressahs, training institutes, gyms, swimming pools, and Urs celebrations would also remain suspended for a period of three weeks, ie, till April 5.
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has also closed the Karachi Zoo. Murad directed the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to take the lead in developing Taluka-wise data of families so that in case of emergency such as lockdown, people could be reached for their food, medicines and other essential items and assistance.
Murad issued these directives while presiding over two different meetings at the CM House here. The meeting was attended by Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, Information Minister Nasir Shah, Advisor Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, Sindh IG Mushtaq Maher, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Health Secretary Zahid Abbasi, Dr Faisal of Aga Khan Hospital, representatives of the WHO and others.
The chief minister said that when novel coronavirus has become endemic, therefore his government has no option but to take drastic measures to control the situation and save people. "It is high time to close cinemas, marriage halls/lawns, shrines and Urs programmes. Even we can't allow marriage functions at clubs," he said and added that "people can hold marriage programmes at a limited level at their homes."
Shah directed the chief secretary to issue notification regarding imposition of ban on such gatherings. "I am sure people of this province will strengthen my hands in containing coronavirus," he said and added that "as and when the situation is improved we would reverse our decisions."
Commissioner Sukkur briefing: 293 pilgrims in seven buses have reached Sukkur and all of them have been taken to the isolation center where their medical checkup and other tests were being conducted. On this the chief minister asked the Commissioner Sukkur to collect samples of all 293 pilgrims and send them to Karachi for test. He added, "since there was no testing facility in Sukkur, therefore he has sent his helicopter to Sukkur to airlift the samples of 293 pilgrims arrived there from Taftan. These samples would be tested at Aga Khan, Indus and Ojha hospitals.
The chief minister also directed Commissioner Sukkur to compile data of all the pilgrims so that their correct addresses could be recorded for future course. He also directed the commissioner to install TV sets in the rooms of the pilgrims in the isolation center so that they could not feel `actual isolation but must have the feeling of being looked after properly."
Murad told the commissioner that another batch of 648 pilgrims were ready to leave Taftan for Sukkur, therefore their accommodation arrangements should be made accordingly. Shah requested the World Health Organisation to send its experts along with the experts of Aga Khan and Indus Hospitals to Sukkur to inspect the facilities. "I am sparing my jet and it would fly back to Karachi in a day," the chief minister said.
WB support: Shah said that despite financial constraints he was providing necessary funds to hospitals for developing isolation centers and quarantine facilities in every district of the province.
The Chief Minister said that the World Bank has agreed to divert its $10 million fund from Sindh Resilience Project to Coronavirus Support Programme being launched by Sindh government. He directed the chief secretary to utilize the amount for purchase of necessary equipment such as ventilators, oxygen cylinders, beds and other gadgets. It was also pointed out that $25 million were being made available by the World Bank to contain coronavirus in Sindh.
Two new cases: Health Secretary Zahid Abbasi told the chief minister that two new cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed Saturday afternoon. One case has travel history of Saudi Arabia while the other patient's father had travel history and transferred the virus to his young child. The health dept has also taken the sample of the father. The case is from Karachi.
At present, 31 pilgrims have been put in quarantine at their homes, of them 11 would complete their isolation period on March 18, two on March 16, five on March 17 and 12 on March 12. Secretary Health told the chief minister that 3300 passengers landed at Jinnah Terminal till late evening of Friday. Out of 3300 passengers seven were deemed as suspects and they have been kept in quarantine and their samples have also been taken for lab test.
The chief minister directed to set up 35 field hospitals equipped with all the required gadgets and doctors and paramedical staff so that they could be sent at the place of need. He also urged the PDMA to make arrangement for food, water and other items for quarantine centers.
The chief minister also decided to establish quarantine centers in every district headquarter in the hospital buildings recently constructed but yet to be functionalized. He also directed the Labour Minister to hand over labour apartments recently constructed in Kotri, Nooriabad, Hyderabad and Shaheed Benazirabad for setting up of isolation centers.
CM visits Isolation center: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah flew to a hospital located on the outskirt of the city where he visited a newly established quarantine center. He went bed to bed and witnessed the facilities of oxygen, ventilators and the beds purchased through Indus Hospital.
Professor Dr Bari of Indus Hospital briefed the Chief Minister about the arrangements and the medical and paramedical staff. The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the arrangements and urged Dr Bari to develop such facilities/isolation centers in every district headquarters.
Meetings with Ulema: On the instructions of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Information and Religious Affairs Minister Syed Nasir Shah held separate meetings with Ulema of different schools of thought and sects at the CM House and took them into confidence about the decisions taken by the provincial government.
He urged Ulema to support the provincial government which was taking drastic measures to save people of Sindh in general and Pakistan in particular. Ulema lauded the efforts of the chief minister and assured him of their all-out support.
Video conference: The chief minister through video link participated in a meeting with prime minister's special assistant Dr Zafar Mirza at 4pm Saturday. The chief minister told the PM's special aide that funds the provincial government has generated are from its own resources and the World Bank has pledged financial assistance. However, the PDMA may need some equipment for which a list would be sent to the National Disaster Management Authority.
The Sindh chief minister addressing the chief minister of Balochistan in the conference said that 283 pilgrims have reached Sukkur from Taftan but it must be ensured that the number of pilgrims put on board on the buses should not be allowed to get down anywhere on way till they reach at border with Sindh where the Sindh government has made its own arrangements.
The chief minister said that buses just after getting their passengers would be disinfected at Sukkur and drivers would also be checked and taken care of. Ban on travel: Murad has imposed ban on traveling of government officers. He directed the chief secretary to inform the federal government that the officers may be taken on video conference instead of inviting them to Islamabad.
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