Coronavirus Update: Sindh’s death toll surpasses 1,500

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh’s overall COVID-19 fatality tally surpassed 1,500 on July 4 when authorities in the government confirmed deaths of another 42 patients during the last 24 hours, with detection of 1,585 new infections across Sindh, taking the tally of infected people to 92,306, with an overall case rate of 19% since February 26 when the province registered its first coronavirus case at Karachi. 

The total COVID-19 fatalities till July 4 morning was recorded as 1,501, against 575 deaths till June 4, which climbed to 679 on June 8, 916 on June 17, 1,013 on June 19, 1,103 on June 22, 1,205 on June 26, 1406 on July 1, with an overall fatality rate of 1.62% due to infections.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his daily statement on coronavirus status in the province, stated that 52,388 patients had recovered from the diseases so far, including 1,480 who were cleared of the diseases during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am on July 4. 

He said that at present a total 1,603 patients were hospitalized, including 733 in critical conditions, out of which 98 were put on ventilators, adding that another 36515 COVID-19 positive cases were in home isolation, while 299 more were isolated at government sponsored centres, 

The details about residential status of the deceased persons and hospitals where they lost their lives were not made available by the authorities in the government or the health department. 

According to the chief minister’s statement, Karachi presented the maximum of 928 infections during the last 24 hours, followed by Sukkur (107), Hyderabad (76), Ghotki (65), Matiari (31), Thatta (16), Khairpur (14), Jacobabad (13), Badin (12), Naushero Feroze (12), Sanghar (9), Umerkot (9), Kambar Shahdadkot (8), Mirpurkhas (7), Jamshoro (6), Larkana (4), while Dadu, Kashmore, Shikarpur and Shaheed Benazirabad reported one new case each. 

WHO Report

A Sindh updates report prepared by the World Health Organization’s Sindh sub-office giving an account of cases, recoveries and deaths since March 10 to July 3, noted that the province had a total 90,721 infections during the said period. 

The greatest number of cases was reported from District East in Karachi as Karachi contributed to 78% of the total cases in Sindh. “The highest attack rate is in Karachi (443/100,000 population).” 

According to the report, Sindh was having 38,354 active cases of COVID till July 3 and most of the active cases were in home isolation (95%). Only 5% were admitted in hospitals and government isolation centers. 

It further said that 38% of the total deaths (1,459) occurred in government facilities, 37% in private hospitals, 21% in home isolations, while isolation status of remaining 4% fatalities could not be known. 

According to the report, among the testing capacity, 72% was utilized overall. In all 1,397 health workers including doctors, nurses, paramedics and other contracted COVID-19 during a period from March 10 to July 3, 2020, in Sindh.