LARKANA: Operating theatres (OTs) in the department of ear, nose and throat (ENT) at the Chandka Medical College Hospital were temporarily closed after a female medical officer and four paramedics in the unit tested positive for coronavirus on Friday.

The unit’s head Prof Dr Gulzar Ahmed Shaikh said that the ward had been disinfected and operation theatres would be opened after 48 hours on Saturday.

He said the ENT department handled majority of suspected patients of Covid-19, therefore, the hospital should provide personal protective equipment to doctors and paramedics on an urgent basis.

On Friday, the administration allowed opening of localities of Ali Goharabad, Samiabad, Qafila Serai and Karmabagh. The localities of Dari, Nawantak and Bakrani Road were yet to be opened, said the sources.

The number of deaths from coronavirus in Larkana rose to two when a patient admitted to SIUT Karachi died on Thursday. He was buried in accordance with the SOPs in Abubakar graveyard late on Thursday night, said Edhi sources.

The deceased was earlier admitted in the chest ward of CMCH about a fortnight back and escaped from the ward after he tested positive, said the sources.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2020