Coronavirus spreading in thickly populated areas of city: CM

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the coronavirus has started further spreading in thickly populated areas of Layri, Lee Market, Kharadar, Bihar Colony and different localities of various union council of district East, Malir, Korangi and West.

"This is something serious and needs to be stopped by conducting extensive tests and ensuring isolation."

In his video message released from the chief minister house the chief minister took up two issues: the coronavirus status and soft and long-term loans for small traders.

Sharing the data of coronavirus, Shah said that 138 new cases have been detected by conducting 1666 tests. The number of tests conducted so far comes to 22938 while the tally of the cases has risen to 2355, he added.

He said that one person died with the death toll stemming from coronavirus has reached to 48 which was two present of the total patients. He added that 11 patients recovered during the last 24 hours and the number of cured patients so far has come to 592 which is 26 percent of the total patients.

Talking about 1715 patients, the chief minister said that 951 were in home isolation, 475 at isolation centres and 289 in different hospitals.

Shah said that 4668 people of Tabligh Jamaat have been kept in isolation among them 4639 have been tested, as a result 477 diagnosed as positive. The positive cases of Tabligh Jamaat have been shifted to Isolation centres.

Shah said that on Friday new cases were detected in South, East, Korangi, Malir, West and Central and on Saturday more cases emerged from Bihar colony. "The cases which appeared in the localities of all the six districts on Friday further spread on Saturday, this is worrisome," he said and added he had ordered extensive tests of the people of the areas.

Once gain he urged the people of the city to observe social distancing and try to remain at home, otherwise it would be quite difficult to contain and stop further spread.

Meeting with traders: The chief minister met with different associations of the small traders and discussed ways and means to allow them to operate.

The traders suggested that they would follow the SOPs if they were allowed to operate their shops. The traders suggested that they should be allowed and supported to start home delivery services. At this the chief minister said that he was very keen to strengthen online and on phone business activities. "This is the way how social distancing is observed," he said.

The traders also agreed to open their shops on rotation basis. For example, if a shop of tailor is allowed to open on a particular day then on the same day all the related shops such as cloths, etc. be allowed to open. Similarly, when the shops of air-conditioners are open on the same day all the related shops such as electricians, electric appliances shops be allowed to operate.

The chief minister constituted a committee under Minister Labour Saeed Ghani, Minister Energy Imtiaz Shaikh, Minister Excise & Taxation Mukesh Chawla and Minister Local Government Nasir Shah to sit together with leaders of small Traders and prepare SOPs for opening of the small business activities within 24 hours and submit the same for his approval and sharing with the federal government for further action.

On the request of the traders association, the chief minister announced to give certain exemptions of SRB and provincial excise & taxation recoveries.

In his video message, the chief minister said that the prices of petroleum have come down considerably. Therefore, there is enough space to give loans to the small traders to cope up with the present situation.

The traders' community appreciated the chief minister for his prompt action against coronavirus and his support for traders.