KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho today (Thursday) has announced that the school across the province would remain close until the COVID-19 cases decline.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, the health minister said, “We have to proceed with caution until the numbers improve and don’t want to risk the lives of our children. So schools will remain closed until we are certain that the COVID-19 cases are decreasing.”
Azra Pechuho said that the inoculation campaign for teachers and educational staff was also being sped up. “We want to ensure for schools that there is complete health protection and a child doesn’t get infected with the virus at school,” she added.
The health minister further said despite the efforts of the government, people are still hesitant to get themselves vaccinated. She also announced that the provincial government would ease restriction once people start getting themselves inoculated.
“The coronavirus positivity ratio in Karachi is still above 11%,” Dr Pechuho said, adding that Sindh is yet to see an improvement in this regard. She added that Sindh has mandated all provincial government employees to get inoculated against the virus.
“We are also planning to vaccinate people at home, while a mobile vaccination service will also be launched soon,” the health minister said, adding that the government has set a target of inoculating more than 18 million people within three months.
Referring to the rumors surrounding the coronavirus vaccine, she said, “The man who spread rumours about people dying within two years of vaccination was foolish,” adding, “If anyone witnesses side effects of the vaccine, then there are medicines to cure that.”
Pakistan’s coronavirus death toll crosses 21,000 mark
On Thursday, Pakistan’s coronavirus death tally surpassed the 21,000-mark after 92 fatalities were reported, pushing the total death tally to 21,022, according to the official data provided by the National and Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).
About 51,523 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours out of which 2,028 returned positive, taking the total caseload to 926,695 on Thursday. The positivity rate of coronavirus stands at 3.93% making it the 10th consecutive day when the country reported less than 5% positivity rate.
The country is reporting a decline in coronavirus cases amid the deadly third wave that has wreaked havoc. Pakistan has started coronavirus vaccination for those who are over 18 years old from today.
