Rising numbers of fake COVID-19 cases raising doubts

KARACHI: There has been a rise in the number of coronavirus tests being declared fake which has raised doubts over the facilities being provided by the federal and provincial governments.

Citizens are increasingly suspicious of the COVID-19 testing facilities which could start a political crisis if opposition parties started to raise concerns. In several cases, the team of the Sindh government declared patients as COVID-19 positive but subsequent testing from private laboratories declared them as negative.

This came to light after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nabil Gabol claimed that the government was exaggerating coronavirus figures to receive funds from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Gabol said that the government has signed an agreement with the global health agency under which they would receive $3000 per case.

The claims may be erroneous but have not been refuted any member of the PPP or the ruling PTI which gives credence to his words. As a result, many healthy patients have been declared as COVID-19 positive and placed in quarantine facilities. Many doctors have also supported the Sindh government by holding press conferences and issuing statements while hospitals have received over Rs400 million.

The Sindh government has eased lockdown restrictions after complying with the decision of several governments. As the number of cases rises and safety precautions are violated, the provincial government will consider the decision on May 20 whether to reimpose a lockdown.