A month ago, Lahore was reporting a coronavirus positivity rate of over 20 per cent amid a deadly third wave of coronavirus that has gripped Punjab.
The cases gradually started to subside and the provincial capital has reported mere 713 cases over the past 24 hours — a significant decline in the infections. Lahore still remained the city that has most coronavirus deaths in the province, but things looked bright at least according to current estimates of the health ministry.
READ MORE: Lockdown likely in Lahore as COVID-19 positivity rate touches 19 per cent
However, it seems now Karachi — which reported a relatively low number of infections since March — will be the next target of the virus. Sindh government’s spokesperson Murtaza Wahab said that the positivity rate has reached 24 per cent in the port city.
“The number shows, we are violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) designed to contain the virus spread,” Wahab said while addressing a press conference after the meeting of Sindh Corona Task Force. Wear masks, get yourself injected with the COVID vaccination, Wahab implored.
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In May alone, 143 people have succumbed to the deadly virus, as per the chief minister of Sindh. “123 patients are on ventilators, while the province has 664 ventilators,” CM Murad Ali Shah reportedly said. Karachi East’s positivity ratio was reported at 26 per cent; Karachi South 17pc; Karachi Central 14pc; Malir and Hyderabad 11pc; and Sukkur has a positivity rate of 12pc.
During the Eid holidays, the cases remained low, but on the first day after Eid, Pakistan’s cases crossed 3,000 again. It may be noted here that the National Command and Operation (NCOC) has also extended the timings of markets from 6pm to 8pm, while a ban on public transport imposed ahead of Eid has also been lifted.
Meanwhile, the offices will start following normal shift hours with 50 per cent attendance. The educational institutions, on the other hand, will remain closed till May 23 in the light of the infections.
