Daily Times

Testing reports of as many as 18 new COVID-19 suspected cases came positive in Larkana on Sunday due to which the number of coronavirus affected people has jumped to 56, sources claimed.

In this connection deputy commissioner Muhammad Nauman Siddique was contacted two times by this Scribe to have his update but he did not attend any call despite sending him SMS. These 18 new cases include 13 members of Tabligi Jamat and five of them are citizens also. 56 positive cases include, 13 Tabligi Jamat members, five had returned from Iran and 14 have been infected through local transmission. When the Larkana’s incharge District Health Officer Dr. Athar Shah was contacted several times he too disconnected the calls as he is in BPS-19 and post of DHO (BPS-20) is still vacant.

Dr. Altaf Hussain Jokhio, Focal Person for Chandka Medical College Hospital Isolation Ward told this Scribe that six new influential patients have been brought to the isolation ward, who are forcing the administration to refer them to Karachi for treatment. He said that it will be risky but they can do that at their own will. He said with the arrival of these six patients the number of isolated cases has also jumped to 12 at the ward. He said new cases include women and their children.

On the other hand sources said that out of 22 samples obtained from members of Tablighi Jamaat and 13 have turned out to be positive. Reports of two government servants are still awaited.

Meanwhile, 28 samples were also obtained of family members and friends of a contractor who was already found positive out of which five have been determined positive and 18 have been analysed negative. According to the task force figures five positive people have so far been cured in Larkana.

Five samples of Shaikh community people have been discarded which will be taken again, sources added.

Meanwhile, partial lockdown was observed across the district and people freely were seen doing their daily routine matters without fear of police. Motorcycle and car mechanics have urged the government to also allow them to open their shops because barbers have been already opened their daily business. They said that their community is also very poor and cannot afford to stay home without earning livelihood for so long. Bike mechanic Ghulam Rasul Katpar of Naundero and others appealed to Sindh Chief Minister to allow opening of their garages.