KARACHI: Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister Murtaza Wahab has warned that the Covid-19 situation in Karachi had become very ‘dangerous and alarming’ ahead of Eidul Azha holidays.
“Karachi’s positivity rate had increased to 23.12 percent in the last 24 hours when it was 8.5-9pc 10 days ago,” the adviser pointed out while addressing a press conference in the metropolis today (Monday).
He said COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) weren’t followed by people after the Sindh government relaxed restrictions. “Now Eidul Azha is coming and it’s a very dangerous situation in Karachi,” he added.
Murtaza Wahab urged the public to follow precautionary measures for “your own benefit” and get vaccinated. “The government doesn’t want that there is strictness and we impose restrictions again because when we do then the opposition says something but no one thinks about health workers,” he added.
He further said that people were falling ill in large numbers, turning towards hospitals and getting hospitalized. The adviser said vaccines were present in ample numbers. “Without vaccinations, the government would be forced to take strict decisions”, he added.
“I want to tell citizens that the situation today is dangerous and concerning and if in the next few days we don’t adhere to the SOPs then these numbers (positivity rate) can become more dangerous,” he added.
He also cautioned against “sowing disunity” and misinforming people about Covid-19, saying they should be informed about its reality and the ways to protect against it. “Have the realisation and convince and unite the people that vaccination is the way to protect against it,” he said.
Wahab also hit out at the federal government for opening travel for tourism to the northern areas, saying it was the reason for the surge in coronavirus cases in Gilgit and other places.
