KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday directed the health department to start random testing of people at grocery and vegetable shops so that local spread of coronavirus could be checked and contained.

In a video message released from the CM House, he said that cases of local spread were increasing equally in urban and rural areas.

He added that a villager recently visited Hyderabad and got himself infected there. “When he returned to his village he infected others. We checked his 30 relatives/connections, of them nine were infected by him.”

The CM said that he had decided to start random testing at grocery shops, vegetable shops and other such places where people frequently go.

He said that the random checking was aimed at monitoring the local spread so that a new strategy could be formulated to contain the virus further.

People visiting grocery, vegetable shops will be randomly selected for testing; nine more patients die in Sindh due to coronavirus

“I have issued the directive and hope that the people will cooperate with the field staff of our labs,” he said.

451 new cases in Sindh

Sharing the situation report of coronavirus, the CM said that 3,671 samples were tested overnight and 451 of them, or 12.3 per cent of the total tests, were diagnosed positive.

He said nine more people lost their lives while struggling against the infection.

He said that the number of tests conducted so far came to 72,544 against which 8,640 tested positive.

He said that a total of 157 patients, or 1.8pc of the total patients, had died so far due to the coronavirus.

“Yes, we have good news also that 60 more patients have been cured and discharged and now the number of patients who defeated the virus and recovered has reached 1,731, which is 20 per cent,” he said.

He said that 5,528 patients, or 82pc of the patients, were in home isolation, 721, or 10pc, were at isolation centres and 503 were at different hospitals.

He added that 89 patients were in critical condition and 14 of them were on ventilators.

The chief minister said that out of 451 new cases 327 cases belonged to Karachi — 68 in Central, 74 in East, 25 in Korangi, 26 in Malir, 87 in South and 47 cases in West.

He added that 24 new cases were diagnosed in Shikarpur, 19 in Sukkur, seven in Larkana, five in Hyderabad, four in Sujawal, three in Ghotki, two in Sanghar and one each in Matiari, Mirpurkhas and Dadu.

The chief minister said that the inquiry ordered into the death of Dr Furqan allegedly because of non-availability of ventilator had been completed.

“Now, I have ordered the health department to take strict action against the officers whose failure has been pointed out,” he said.

He expressed condolence with the family members of late Dr Furqan and also offered condolence with the family members of other doctors, policemen and paramedical staff who lost their lives in the line of duty, particularly while protecting others.

515 of 2,369 stranded Pakistanis test positive

Mr Shah said that different flights had brought back 2,369 stranded Pakistanis and all of them were tested. “As a result, 515 of them came positive, which was 22 per cent’” he added.

He said that the patients were being taken care of properly.

The chief minister once again asked people of the province to follow the standard operating procedures and observe social distancing.

Meanwhile, the chief minister through a video link from CM House participated in the meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) in Islamabad.

The meeting discussed matters pertaining to lockdown particularly post-May 9 measures.

It was also attended by the chief ministers/ministers of other provinces, including of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Mr Shah said that the death ratio stemming from coronavirus had increased apart from spike in the new cases, particularly of local transmission. “In such state of affairs, we have to take decisions after a thorough discussion and debate and with national unity,” he said.

The meeting discussed how to ease lockdown and what business activities be allowed to start operation or continued to remain closed.

In the meeting different sectors were discussed and like other provinces the Sindh chief minister gave his recommendations and observations.

The meeting also discussed operation timing of business activities and their SOPs. The discussion was also made on allowing agreed business activities before or after iftar.

Finally, it was decided that Federal Minister Asad Umar would firm up the suggestions and the final decision would be taken by the prime minister.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2020