Sindh CM says all coronavirus cases in province 'are imported', none 'indigenous’

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said Tuesday all 15 positive cases of the novel coronavirus in the province were "imported" and that none of them was "indigenous".

Speaking during a meeting of the Sindh task force on coronavirus at the CM House, Shah said: "It means we will have to be more cautious in checking the passengers coming from Iran, Afghanistan, Italy, and such other countries at the airport.

"The suspect(s), if any, must be quarantined there instead of bringing him to the city," he added, noting that some 4,000 people arrive at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport every day, which was why arrangements for their screening must be made foolproof.

The CM directed Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah to speak to the federal government and request making quarantine arrangements at the airport for suspected coronavirus cases.

"I want none of the passenger with pneumonia or coronavirus symptoms be brought out of the airport and expose him/her to others," Shah added.

The chief secretary told Shah that the Sindh health department had posted 32 professionals at the Jinnah International Airport but that he planned to double the staff to ensure every incoming passenger was checked properly. The World Health Organization (WHO) would offer special training to these professionals, including doctors and paramedical staff.

It was decided during the meeting that a health, education, and screening desk would be established at immigration counters of the Karachi airport.

Sindh health dept conducts 162 lab tests

On the other hand, the chief minister was told that nine of the 19 samples tested earlier were diagnosed as positive while 10 declared negative, bringing the total number of cases in Sindh to 15, including 14 in Karachi and one in Hyderabad.

Two more samples have been sent for lab test and their results were being awaited.

Participants of the meeting were also informed that all 14 patients under treatment were stable and recovering.

The Sindh health department had conducted 162 lab tests, of which 147 tested negative while 15 were diagnosed as positive.

Second patient almost recovered

After the first patient recovered and returned home, another — a 67-year-old high-risk patient — also recovered and tested negative on Tuesday; however, he would be tested again tomorrow before a final assessment.

It was pointed out that 167 pilgrims were in quarantine at their homes. 25 of the quarantined pilgrims would complete their isolation on March 11, 34 on March 12, 66 March 13 and likewise.

In addition, private hospitals on Shah's instructions shared the data of 691 patients, none of whom had tested positive. Similar data would be provided to the provincial health department every day from now on.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Local Government Minister Nasir Shah, Law Advisor Murtaza Wahab, Chief Secretary Shah, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shahalwani, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for Sindh Mushtaq Mehar, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, Home Secretary Usman Chachar, Finance Secretary Hassan Naqvi, Health Secretary Zahid Abbasi, and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director-General Salman Shah were present in the meeting.

Representatives from the Corps V, Rangers, Federal Investigation Agency, Airport Services, Civil Aviation, WHO, Aga Khan Hospital, and Indus Hospital also attended the meeting.