KARACHI: As many as 31 more patients of coronavirus died overnight, the highest figure since mid-March when the first death was reported, while 804 new cases emerged rising the number of virus-hit people to 26,113 across the province.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in a statement said that Sindh had 31 deaths on Friday which took the death toll to 427 in the province. “I am saddened today to see the deaths of 31 patients,” he said and prayed for departed souls and offered condolence with the grieving families.

He said that 3,316 tests were conducted against which 804 new cases emerged adding that the provincial government had so far conducted 171,222 tests which detected 26,113 cases. “We can control further spread of the virus if we all adopt precautionary measures but sorry to say the situation is disappointing — our people are not cooperating,” he said.

Sharing good news, Mr Shah said that 1,563 patients had recovered during the past 24 hours.

According to the chief minister, out of 804 new cases, 597 belong to Karachi.

He gave district-wise details in Karachi and said that 140 new patients belonged to Korangi, 132 to East, 117 to South, 79 to Central, 68 to Malir and 61 patients to district West.

The chief minister said that Hyderabad had 37 new cases, Ghotki 24, Larkana 23, Jacobabad 10, Jamshoro 10, Shikarpur and Badin seven each, Dadu four, Umerkot three, Sanghar two, Kashmore, Khairpur, Matiari, Shaheed Benazirabad and Tando Allahyar had one each.

The chief minister concluding his statement once again by urging people of the province to be careful, adopt SOPs and avoid crowding.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2020