Karachi reports highest number of coronavirus cases

KARACHI: Sindh health authorities have recorded 269 cases of the novel COVID-19 in the metropolis over the past 24 hours, marking the highest number of patients across Sindh.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the province reported 341 new cases over the past 24 hours as social distancing continued to fall in the city.

The chief minister said that there was no social distancing in the economic hub’s slums despite serious efforts, causing cases to rise day by day.

Of Karachi’s 269 COVID-19 cases, 50 cases were reported in South,  90 in East district,  39 in West, 40 in Korangi, 20 in Central and 30 in Malir.

According to CM Murad, over the past 24 hours, provincial health officials have conducted 2,733 COVID-19 tests, of which 341 were diagnosed as positive, translating into a rate of 12.6 percent.

He said to date, the provincial health department has conducted a total 43,949 tests, of which 4,956 (11.2%) have tested positive, he added.

The chief minister said four more patients lost their lives, bumping up Sindh’s death toll from the novel COVID-19 to 85, of the total patients. However, 24 patients’ condition was critical and another 16 were on ventilators.

Across the province, 23 COVID-19 cases were reported in Khairpur, 12 each in Larkana and Hyderabad,  two in Matiari, four in Sukkur, three in Dadu, eight in Ghotki and one each in Jacobabad and Umerkot.