Coronavirus Update: Infection rate swings

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh witnessed ups and downs in its daily COVID-19 infection rates during the week, as authorities in the government confirmed detection of another 1,414 positive cases out of 7,400 samples during the last 24 hours ending on the morning of June 24 with new 39 related deaths, taking the tally of total infection to 74,070 and death to 1,161 for the province.

On June 18, Sindh’s new infection rate was 21%, which started dipping on June 20 and was recorded at 15% on June 22. It increased to 24% on June 23 and then went down to 19% on June 24. 

While the health department remained silent on the subject, some observers noted that the COVID-19 consultants to the department yet need to device a foolproof style of sampling and testing, which could help understand the trend of the lethal virus’s onslaught across the province. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his daily COVID-19 statement, informed that 32,722 infected people were receiving the treatment at homes (31,184 cases), isolation centres (81) and hospitals (1,457). He further stated that 733 patients were in critical condition, urging people to adhere to the precautionary and preventive measures. 

The details of people expiring of COVID lately were delivered neither by the Chief Minister nor by health department’s officers. 

According to breakdown of Karachi’s new infection, as stated by the Chief Minister, Karachi East district reported the maximum of 185 cases during the last 24 hours, followed by South (184), Korangi (97), Malir 70), Central (68) and West (40). 

An official report issued on June 20 had revealed that the eastern district of Karachi was housing 2,356 active cases, while enduring 147 deaths. Its overall infection rate came as 69.5 per 100,000 people, while the case fatality rate stood at 3.6. 

Karachi reported the maximum number of 644 cases during the last 24 hours, followed by Hyderabad (74), Mirpurkhas (33), Sukkur (30), Ghotki (27), Shaheed Benazirabad (25), Larkana (18), Thatta (9), Shikarpur (9), Badin (8), Sanghar (8), Khairpur (7), Naushero Feroze (6), Jamshoro (6), Dadu (6), Sujawal (3), Jacobabad (3), Tando Allahyar (01) and Tando Mohammad Khan (1), according to the Sindh Chief Minister’s statement. 

In the meantime, there were 27 beds vacant in the intensive care units of various Karachi hospitals including Dow University Hospital, JPMC, Lyari General Hospital, NICH, Dr Ziauddin hospital, Clifton, and Sessi Kidney Centre and Landhi. 

Reinfection

Commenting over some reports related to second viral attack on patients having recovered from COVID-19 in the country, senior microbiologist, Prof Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi, reckoned that the reported issue needed more comprehensive investigation before drawing any conclusion. It had been reported that a case of coronavirus reinfection was recorded at a hospital in Lahore. 

“The re-infected patient, who initially had contracted the disease about three months back and also got recovered, is exhibiting more severe symptoms now in comparison to the symptoms at the time of the first diagnosis, suggesting the existence of more than one strain of SARS-COV-2, the coronavirus which causes COVID-19 disease,” according to a doctor. 

Reportedly, a Karachi based hospital has also readmitted patients having recovered from COVID-19. 

Prof Shahana Urooj Kazmi opined that the reinfection could also be antibody mediated enhanced infection like in dengue or may be a different strain of the same virus. “May be the strain specific antibody was not effective or the person did not develop neutralizing antibodies,” she opined.

Plasma therapy begins in Nawabshah

By Rashid Zia Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh government has started the facility of treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19) affected patients through plasma therapy at Nawabshah, it was disclosed by the Commissioner of Shaheed Benazirabad Division, Syed Mohsin Ali Shah, on June 24.

He revealed that a team headed by the Chairman of the National Institute of Blood Diseases Karachi, Dr Tahir Shamsi, will be working in collaboration with the Peoples Medical University Hospital to treat the COVID-19 affected patients through plasma therapy. 

Dr Tahir Shamsi, who was also present on the occasion, expressed the confidence that score of lives of the COVID-19 affected patients could be saved by plasma therapy. 

Speaking at the inauguration at Regional Blood Center, the Commissioner informed that the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority had donated the plasma collecting machine. 

He described it as an excellent initiative of the provincial government which, he hoped, would help recover the COVID-19 affected patients of Shaheed Benazirabad Division. 

He declared that Abbas Ali Arain of Bhiria Road town, who has completely recovered from coronavirus, was the first person to donate plasma. He recognized and praised him for donating plasma. 

Commissioner Mohsin Shah also appealed to other coronavirus recovered persons to step ahead and donate plasma to save the lives of their brothers and sisters as precious lives could be saved in this pandemic situation. 

Dr Tahir Shamsi, Chairman, National Institute of Blood Diseases Karachi, remarked that the recovery success of coronavirus affected patients through plasma therapy was 92% and any person having recovered from the virus could donate plasma four times a week with proper intervals. 

According to him a litre of plasma can be administered to two patients and healthy recovered persons should donate plasma generously in war against coronavirus. 

The Vice Chancellor of the Peoples Medical University, Prof Dr Gulshan Ali Memon, and the District Health Officer, Dr Asif Raza Brohi, besides other officials were also present on the occasion. 

Later the Commissioner took a round of different departments of the Regional Blood Centre and he was appreciative of its working, assuring them of full cooperation from his office.

Chinese company donates UAVs to fight locust, COVID-19

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

China’s Shenzhen Sunwin Intelligent Co Ltd has donated five Industrial UAVs (drones) to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on June 24. 

On behalf of the NDMA, Muhammad Irfan, Trade and Investment Counsellor of Consulate General of Pakistan in Guangzhou, attended the donation ceremony in Shenzen. 

Addressing at the ceremony, Pakistan’s Trade and Investment Counsellor appreciated the gesture of the Chinese people, expressing the hope that the friendship between the two countries will be even stronger in future. 

The donation of Sunwin at a critical time when Pakistan was fighting fiercely against both COVID-19 and the locust attack was deemed yet another reflection of iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China. 

Zhou Yong, Chairman of the Board of Sunwin, stated that China and Pakistan were all weather strategic cooperative partners and the bond of friendship between the two nations has always been unbreakable and rock-solid. 

He recalled that right after the breakout of the COVID-19, Pakistan had mobilized the whole nation to support China. 

“You throw a peach to me, and I give you a white jade for friendship. Now, as Pakistan is in trouble, Sunwin, a Chinese sci-tech enterprise, should embrace our responsibility. We would like to bring our good products in agricultural crops protection to Pakistan and share our experiences in the pandemic control and prevention with the local government and people,” he added. 

Sunwin told China Economic Net that the five Industrial UAVs, with a total value of 200,000 RMB (about $28,291), will depart from China’s Guangzhou and be sent to Pakistan soon. They will assist Pakistan’s fight against the pandemic and locust attack. 

Saiying, a type of drone made by Sunwin, has been used to kill locusts in Pakistan’s Dera Ismail Khan and other places since February 2020, according to Zhou. 

Saiying drone has become a special instrument with super power to destroy locusts for its high efficiency of spraying and disinfecting, strong adaptation and remarkable effect. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic spreading in Pakistan, unmanned aerial vehicles could also play an important role in disinfecting, monitoring and temperature measurement. 

After knowing that Pakistan was still in need of drones, Sunwin contacted both of Chinese and Pakistani embassies and made production and donation plans. 

Sunwin was established in 1997 and listed in Shenzhen Stock Exchange in January 2010. It is a leading enterprise in the field of smart city and also a leader in artificial intelligence in China. Sunwin’s main business interests cover four sectors, smart city, big data, artificial intelligence, and culture and education.

3D printed isolation units on way to Pakistan

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

As many as 15 units of 3D printed isolation units set off from Shanghai and Suzhou ports for Pakistan that would greatly help in curbing COVID-19 pandemic. 

After a month's sea transportation, the consignment will be arriving Pakistan for COVID-19 prevention and cure. 

This consignment was valued at about $123,300, being a donation from Ying Chuang Building Tech (Winsun) after contact and coordination with Consulate General of Pakistan in Shanghai and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), a Chinese website reported on June 24. 

The units have been specifically designed for Pakistan, which showed excellent heat-proof quality. They have already been installed with provision of water and electricity utilities, doors, windows and inner decoration. 

As soon as arriving at the destination, after assembling and connecting with water and electricity supply, they can be put into use promptly. It is learnt that 3D printed isolation units had been used in Hubei and Shandong during the most crucial time and achieved satisfactory feedback. 

After the coronavirus outbreak, the isolation units can be transformed into hotel, park lounge, cafe, guardroom, toilet and emergency room for disaster relief. 

Furthermore, the wards are printed from recycled materials. After crushing, sorting, grinding and high-temperature treatment, these units can be turned into materials again for printing other new buildings.

More dialysis facilities in Larkana, Sukkur

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) is likely to launch a 12-machine dialysis facility for kidney patients operational at Larkana next month.

An officer of the institute revealed that the dialysis unit in question, an extended part of SIUT Chablani Medical Centre of Sukkur, as per plan, will start functioning in the mid of August and it was expected that it would carry out 100,000 dialysis sessions to some 950 patients living in Larkana and its adjoining areas on a yearly basis. 

“Twelve dialysis machines have already been transported to Larkana, which will now be put for trial testing for a period of two weeks. Patients’ monitors required for high dependency unit are in process of being installed while facilities of radiology and pathology are also in the final stages,” it was disclosed. 

The officer further informed that the water purification system by reverse osmosis has already been installed and it would also be ready for use in weeks’ time. “The drainage system which is a project of the local government is also in final stages.” 

About the SIUT’s Chablani centre, he said that it was a full-fledged hospital with in-patient and outpatient services, having operation theatres, 24-hour dialysis unit, lithotripsy, laboratory and radiology services to thousands of patients yearly for more than a decade.