Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that 731 more cases of coronavirus were diagnosed when 4223 samples were tested while 16 other patients died, taking the tally to 13,341 cases and death toll to 234. "This shows that still we are facing upsurge in infection and deaths which calls for observance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in true letter and spirit."
In a statement issued from the CM House, the chief minister said that 4223 tests were conducted against which 731 cases were detected which were 17.3 percent of the total tests. "As we are going to increase the number of tests the more cases are detected," he said and added we have to contain it with our collective efforts. The health department so far has conducted 103,340 tests and diagnosed 13341 cases which are 12.9 percent of the total tests.
The chief minister said that 16 more patient have died and so far the death toll has reached to 234 or 1.7 percent. "With the grace of God our death ratio is comparatively low and we are making efforts to control it by enforcing SOPs," he said.
According to the chief minister 10,272 patients were under treatment all over Sindh. He said 8840 patient or 86 percent of the total were at home isolation where they were being looked after by doctors through phone, 919 were at isolation Centres and 513 in different hospitals.
Shah said that 606 patients have recovered and returned to their home. "So far 2835 patients have recovered and the recovery ratio stands at 21.3 percent which was encouraging but we have to improve it further and all this would be possible when people will start getting them tested voluntarily," he said.
The chief minister said that out of 731 coronavirus cases, Karachi has 585. They are 140 in the East, South 127, Malir 116, Central 85, West 60 and 57 in Korangi district.
He said, the experts were pointing out that the month of May would see an upsurge in cases of coronavirus. "We have eased the lockdown on the assurance of the traders and the people that SOPs of social distancing, wearing of masks and avoiding crowds would be order of the day but the results are contrary," he deplored and went on saying that if such an attitude was continued we wouldn't be able to get rid of the on-going pandemic.
He said that death frequency showed that 4.6 percent patients who could not survive were between 51 to 60 years of age, 8.5 percent between 61 to 70 year age, 11.5 percent between 71 to 80 years and 22.5 percent 81 and above. Sharing gender distribution of death, Shah disclosed that 76 percent were male and 24 percent female.
Other districts: Talking about other districts of the province, the chief minister said that 24 cases have been detected in Larkana, 22 in Hyderabad, 14 Ghotki, 10 Sukkur, eight Kandhkot-Kashmore, seven Shikarpur, five Shaheed Benazirabad, and four each in Sujawal and Tando Mohammad Khan, two each in Jacobabad and Naushehroferoze and one each in Umerkot, Khairpur, Kambar-Shahdadkot and Jamshoro.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday launched Sindh Mental Authority helpline 021 & 022- 111-117-642 established to help and support people facing issues of mental health.
Shah said that the help line has been developed just to meet the need of psychological crisis intervention in the light of ongoing coronavirus outbreak. "The coronavirus has developed mental stress, depression, anxiety and other psychological issues among the people," he said and added people can call anywhere from the province to share their issues with the experts and get the guidelines accordingly.
Earlier, Chairman Sindh Mental Health Authority Dr Karim Khuwaja briefing the chief minister said that the helpline has been established with No. 111-117-642. "If the phone number is dialled with 021-code it will be connected with Jinnah Post Graduate Institute, Karachi and when the phone number is dialled with code 0221 it will be connected with Sir Cowasjee Jahangir Institute of Psychiatry, Hyderabad. He added that in both hospitals leading psychiatrists will guide the callers.
The helpline facility will be available from 8 am to 3 pm and the time would be extended as per future requirement.
The chief minister appreciated Dr Karim Khuwaja for his efforts to establish the helpline.
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