Lockdown Threat Looms Over Karachi as Delta Variant Runs Riot
Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister Murtaza Wahab told the test-to-positivity ratio in Karachi has soared to around 23% from around 9% recorded a week earlier
The deteriorating condition of covid-19 after delta variant in Karachi may push the metropolis towards another lockdown.
The city is in a jeopardy as around 90% of the positive cases are being detected with the Indian variant of coronavirus.
National Institute of Virology of Karachi University (KU) collected samples of 90 infected samples between July 14 and 15. Alarmingly, some 92% of the sample size was detected with the Indian-type delta variant.
Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister Murtaza Wahab told on Monday that the test-to-positivity ratio in Karachi has soared to around 23% from around 9% recorded a week earlier.
Read Also
Sloppy Attitude Towards Vaccination, NCOC Fears 4th Wave
He said the citizens of Karachi did not adhere to the devised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) after the provincial government relaxed lockdown restrictions after arrival of delta variant.
The adviser urged the citizens of Karachi to strictly follow precautionary guidelines during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays for their own benefit.
The health experts said that people should be extra cautioned during Eid while meeting their family and relatives.
They urged limited movement and preference to stay homes amid the pandemic situation.
Adviser Murtaza Wahab also warned that the government would be forced to take tougher decisions if people do not abide by SOPs and got themselves vaccinated.
While talking to News360, Indus Hospital Chief Operating Officer (CEO) Dr Abdul Bari Khan said that delta variant is running riot in Sindh especially Karachi.
He said all covid designated beds in the private healthcare facility have been occupied and they are arranging more. Dr Abdul Bari also urged the people to follow Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) and get vaccinated.
According to Sindh health department officials, the delta variant is rapidly infecting the children as well.
The beds in Infectious Diseases Hospital near NIPA and Karachi’s Expo Center have been filled with patients while Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) has refused to take any new covid infected patients.
Dr Anjum Rehman of Liyari General Hospital told News360 that they are increasing the number of beds in the healthcare facility due to high influx of patients.
The health department has converted the 48-bed surgical ward at Civil Hospital Karachi into a coronavirus ward while the pulmonology ward at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) has also been designed for covid patients in wake of the rising number of cases.
