Coronavirus Update: Infection rate flustering

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh, with its swinging daily COVID-19 infection rates, registered another 1,736 cases on July 8, with 23 more deaths, pushing its overall tally of the infections to 99,362. 

According to the health department’s data released on July 8, the daily infection rate for the last 24 hours came as 19%, which equaled the provincial overall rate of 19%. Daily infection rate was determined as almost 15% on July 7, against 14% of July 6 and 21% on July 5.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his routine COVID-19 statement, shared that Sindh’s daily and overall infections rates had come as 19%, which was on the higher side and certainly a matter a grave concern. 

“People of Sindh can protect themselves and others from the virus onslaught by adopting precautionary measures and adhering to relevant standard operating procedures,” he added.

The Sindh health department’s coronavirus data showed Karachi had 1,003 new cases on the morning of July 8, followed by Hyderabad (122), Ghotki (121), Khairpur (77), Dadu (53), Kambar Shadadkot (47), Shaheed Benazirabad (40), Shikarpur (39), Jamshoro (36), Sukkur (33), Kashmore (32), Tando Allahyar (30), Umerkot (29), Jacobabad (22), Larkana (14), Mirpurkhas (14), Badin (8), Naushero Feroze (7), Sanghar (4), Tando Mohammad Khan (1) and Matiari (1). 

Sindh’s tally of COVI-19 fatalities reached to 1,637 on July 8 with newly reported 223 deaths. Karachi, the highly infected megapolis of the country, reported deaths of nine men and nine women, who were aged between 44 to 70 years. Ghotki, Hyderabad, Kambar Shahdadkot, Larkana reported one related death each. All these deceased persons were in the age brackets of 46 to 86 years. 

Sindh has tested 533,540 samples, among its population, since February 26 when the first COVID-19 cases was reported in the province.

As many as 580 patients were, as of July 8, in critical condition at various hospitals, according to the health department.

A WHO Sindh sub-office report, covering a period from March 10 to July 7, revealed that the province had 1,614 deaths in all, 77% of that was among 50 years and above while the gender ratio came as 2.4 men to one woman.

The highest number of infection cases was reported from the eastern district of Karachi which contributed to 77% of the total cases in Sindh on July 7. The percentage of positive COVID-19 cases was the highest in Karachi (27%) among the total tested on July 7.

The WHO Sindh report further revealed that in all 1,694 healthcare workers contracted the lethal virus till July 7 across the province, 77% of which were doctors.