Coronavirus Update: Relief in Karachi?

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

To the disbelief of many, Karachi, the worst affected, among big cities of Pakistan, due to COVID-19 reported its daily new cases very marginally on October 11, which was 22 during the last 24 hours, taking the tally of the infections to 140,294 for the entire province.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his daily COVID-19 statement on October 11, shared that in all 163 new cases were detected out of 8,497 tests across the province. 

According to him, Karachi division’s four districts registered a total 22 new cases, while two others, South and Korangi, did not report any cases during the last 24 hours ending October 11 morning. 

Karachi was the city which reported the first COVID-19 case of the country on February 26 and since then there had been no letup in term of the infection here. Since the outbreak the city reported on an average 400 new cases daily until October 10. 

Keen observers were of the view that the October 11 figure was not any true reflection of the disease’s prevalence in Karachi. 

According to official data, there were 4,810 active patients of COVID-19 in the province by October 11, including 4,506 receiving the treatment at homes, six in the isolation centres and 298 in hospitals, including 148 critically ill and 22 put on ventilators. 

In the meantime, six more expired in the province during the last 24 hours, taking the total of COVID-19 fatalities to 2,555. 

The breakdown of the new cases remained as Karachi (22), Hyderabad (9), Dadu (8), Jamshoro (6), Sanghar (4), Ghotki (3), Larkana (3), Matiari (2), Mirpurkhas (2), Sujawal (2), Tando Allahyar (2), Shaheed Benazirabad (1), Shikarpur (1), Tando Mohammad Khan (1), Umerkot (1) and Badin (1). On the other hand, 137 patients recovered from the diseases, taking the tally of cured people to 132,933.

China joins global effort to ensure COVID vaccine access for all

 By Masood Sattar Khan

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

China has placed itself among three additional countries to have signed on to a global initiative aimed at ensuring fair and equitable access to a coronavirus vaccine once developed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), a UN specialized agency. 

Together with South Korea and the tiny Pacific island of Nauru, China joined the COVAX Facility this week, bringing the total number of participating nations and economies to 171, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has announced during his regular media briefing in Geneva on the pandemic. 

“The world is eagerly anticipating the results of trials of vaccines against COVID-19, which are needed for WHO authorization. Once we have an effective vaccine, we must also use it effectively, and the best way to do that is by making sure it’s available to all countries equitably through the COVAX Facility,” Tedros said. 

The global mechanism will work to deliver two billion doses by the end of next year. It currently has the largest portfolio of potential vaccines, with several in advanced human trials. 

“The more countries that participate in the COVAX Facility, the greater opportunity of being able to roll out vaccines as rapidly as possible, as fairly as possible, to reduce the risk of severe COVID disease globally,” Dr. Bruce Aylward, Senior WHO Advisor, added.

Coronavirus Update: Spike halted?

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Though there was an impression that cases of COVID-19 were on increase again in Sindh, the authorities on October 10. confirmed an almost 50% decrease in number of samples tested for the virus across the province during the last 24 hours.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his COVID-19 status statement, revealed that as many as 7,515 suspected samples were examined at different laboratories by October 10 morning, against the collective daily maximum capacity of 14,940 tests. 

No reason was given for the reduced testing activities, while the daily new infection rate remained static around 3%. 

The designated COVID-19 testing services had handled 11,138 samples during the 24 hours ending on October 9 morning, out of which 376 (3.37%) were found positive for the lethal virus. 

According to the chief minister’s statement, as many as six new relevant fatalities were registered on October 10, while the number of patients actively suffering from the virus stood at 4,787, out of which 4,491 were in home-isolation, six in the isolation centre, while only 289 were hospitalized, including 187 those undergoing the critical phase of their health and 32 put on ventilators. 

As far as the breakdown of 221new cases were concerned, Karachi headed the table once with 59 cases (27%) followed by Hyderabad (11), Jamshoro (8), Larkana (5), Sukkur (5), Ghotki (3), Mirpurkhas (3), Shaheed Benazirabad (2), Tando Mohammad Khan (2), Jacobabad (2), Dadu (1), Umerkot (1) and others. 

Of the laboratories designated for the coronavirus detection at Karachi, five each from the private and public sector facilities conducted 3,075 tests during the last 24 hours, against 4,440 samples examined by two public sector laboratories at Hyderabad and Larkana. 

According to official reports, six deaths registered by Sindh on October 10 included five from Karachi and one from Shaheed Benazirabad. It was learnt that the two persons who lost their lives due to the virus infection on October 9 belonged to Karachi while two of the eight people, who expired on October 8, were reported receiving treatment at homes.

Coronavirus Update: 267 new cases in Sindh

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh registered another 267 new COVID cases, out of 9,918 suspected samples on October 3, against Pakistan’s 632 new infections during the last 24 hours, taking the tally of infection to 138,050 for the province.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his daily COVID-19 status statement, informed that there were 4,719 infected people receiving treatment at Homes (4,440), isolation centres (7) and hospitals (272). 

He further stated that of the patients admitted at hospitals, 201 were undergoing the critical phase, while another 39 were put on ventilators, as of morning of October 3. 

In all, 1, out of 28 designated COVID-19 testing laboratories, handled the suspected samples during the last 24 hours. 

These laboratories included LUMHS (5,188), Chughtai Lab (1,071), Indus Hospital (1,056), PMCD KU (894), AKUH (888) and others. 

The district-wise breakdown of new cases came as: Karachi (195), Hyderabad (10), Dadu (6), Badin (5), Larnkana (3), Shaheed Benazirabad (3), Sanghar (2), Sukkur (2), Ghotki (2), Mirpurkhas (2), Khairpur (2), Jamshoro (1) and others. 

In the meantime, three more patients died of COVID-19 on October 3, taking the total of relevant fatalities to 2,520 for Sindh and 6,513 for Pakistan. 

The three fatalities occurred in Karachi East, taking its own tally of patients who lost their lives to the lethal virus to 708, out of 25,348 infections. 

On October 2, as per official data, four patients were reported dead due to the diseases from Karachi, while one died at Noushero Feroze. Earlier, 17 patients were registered dead at Karachi and one at Sujawal on October 1.

Coronavirus Update: Apprehension of momentum gain in Karachi

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Amidst apprehension that COVID-19 was gaining momentum again in Sindh, Karachi’s daily infection rate remained almost static, though on the higher side, on October 2 when the authorities confirmed another 316 cases, with five related deaths, during the last 24 hours.

The health authorities at Karachi registered 70.5% new cases out of Sindh’s daily tally of October 2. Earlier the megapolis reported 249 (69%) new cases on October 1, 221 (71%) on September 30, 297 (74%0 on September 29 and 185 (73.7% on September 27. 

With five new relevant deaths the fatality tally for the province was pushed to 2,517 on October 2. However, no data and information related to deaths or cases specific status of districts were available on the Sindh health department’s website. 

The only source of information relevant to COVID-19 was the Sindh Chief Minister’s statement which, according to an observer, was too little in this direction. 

He suggested to the government to ensure a timely and fair dissemination of updates on the diseases and improve its monitoring system at the airports and other entry points and gathering spots, to avert any massive second spell of COVID-19 in the province. 

Meanwhile in his daily COVID-19 statement, Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah on October 2, shared that there were 4,536 active patients of the infection across Sindh, including 4250 in home isolation, seven in designated isolation centres and 270 at hospitals, adding thath ealth condition of 200 patients was critical while 37 were put on ventilators. 

In all 12,990 samples were tested during the 24 hours ending 8 am on October 2, while the district wise breakdown of new positive cases came as: Karachi (223), Hyderabad (9), Badin (8), Dadu (5), Kambar Shahdadkot (5), Jamshoro (4), Larkana (3), Ghotki (2), Matiari (2), Tando Mohammad Khan (2), Mirpurkhas (1), Naushero Feroze (1), Sukkur (1), Tando Allahyar (1), Thatta (1), and others. 

Sindh registered 57% of the new cases recorded in the country on October 2, while 62% of the deaths. In the meantime, the national COVID-19 dashboard's graphics showed Sindh’s new cases as 677 new fatalities as 18 for October 1, which, according to a keen observer, needed to be rechecked.

Oil prices dip after Trump gets coronavirus, economies wobble

 By Masood Sattar Khan 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Oil prices fell five percent on October 2 after the US President, Donald Trump, tested positive for COVID-19 and negotiators failed to agree a US stimulus package just as rising global oil output threatened to overwhelm a weak price recovery. 

Brent crude was reported to have slipped on the Trump news and was down $2.05, or 5.01 percent, at $38.88 a barrel by 1324 GMT. US oil was down $2.01, or 5.19 percent, at $36.71. 

According to reports, the US and Brent crude were heading for drops of around nine percent and seven percent respectively this week for a second consecutive week of declines.

“US unemployment data was a little bit below expectations but the oil price fall is part of the broader correction we’ve seen over the last few days driven by bearish macro sentimentand technical trading,” Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity research at BNP Paribas, was quoted as saying. 

“We’ve moved below several short-term moving averages, 30, 50 and 100-days, so the market is looking for the next support level, which could be around $37 a barrel,” he added.

Coronavirus Update: Sindh reports 311 new cases

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh, with two related fatalities, reported over a half of the new COVID-19 cases detected in the country during the last 24 hours, taking the overall tally of the infected people to 312,806 for the country.

As many as 10,940 suspected samples were tested across the Sindh confirming 311 new cases with a positivity rate of 2.8% during the last 24 hours ending September 30 morning against a total 34,239 samples tested in the country. Pakistan’s overall new infection rate stood at 1.6% same day.

The details related to two new deaths in Sindh were not available as the Sindh health department’s officers remained silent about it. The daily situation report was updated for the last time on the department’s website on September 29. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in a COVID-19 related statement, disclosed that there were 4,255 active patients across the province on September 30, out of which 3978 (94%) were in home-isolation, while six were in isolation centres against 271 receiving treatment at various hospitals adding that health condition of 181 hospitalized patients was stated critical, while 38 were put on ventilators. 

He revealed that Karachi’s six districts collectively reported 221 (71%) of the new cases, while Hyderabad (14), followed by Jamshoro (6), Badin (4), Dadu (4), Sujawal (3), Ghotki (2), Khairpur (1), Naushero Feroze (1), Shaheed Benazirabad (1), Sukkur (1), Thatta (1) and others. 

Another 215 patients were reported having recovered from the diseases, taking the number of cured patients to 130,352 for Sindh on September 30.

Coronavirus Update: Further escalation challenges health system again

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Amidst reports about increase in daily new COVID-19 infections up to 400 in the province, Sindh also witnessed a disturbing escalation in the number of patients utilizing ventilators in Karachi’s hospitals on September 29.

Of the 274 patients hospitalized across the province, as of September 29, as many as 172 were stated to be having critical health condition, while another 37 were put on ventilators at Karachi hospitals against 19 on September 27 and 29 on September 28. 

According to reports, a total of 19 patients were put on ventilators in the public sector hospitals against 10 such patients in private hospitals on September 28. 

These patients were admitted at CHK, Karachi Trauma Centre, Lyari General Hospital, Infectious Diseases Centre, SIUT, LNH, Patel Hospital, AKUH, and Indus Hospital. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his routine COVID-19 statement, shared that there were 416 active patients of the lethal virus in the province, including 3881 in home isolation, six at isolation centres and 274 at hospitals. 

He said that overall 130,137 patients had recovered from the diseases, while the number of patients who lost their lives due to the diseased stood as 2,497, including two fatalities that were registered up to September 29 morning. 

The new infection rate was recorded as about 4% in the province on September 29, against 3% on September 28, 2.58% on September 27 and 2.37% on September 26. 

The district-wise breakdown of 400 new cases, out of 10,881, on September 29 came as: Karachi (297, 74%), Jamshoro (9), Dadu (2), Hyderabad (2), Lakana (2), Shaheed Benazirabad (2), Sukkur (2), Ghotki (1), Kambar Shahdadkot (1), Mirpurkhas (1), Sanghar (10, Umerkot (1) and others. 

As per the official data, updated on September 27, rate of infections at the educational institution was also increasing. 

A maximum of 49 (3.7%) COVID cases were detected in the population of educational institutions located in the Korangi district of Karachi, followed by Matiari (3.5%), Jamshoro (2.4%), Karachi East (2%) and others.

It was further learnt that the majority of the COVID-19 tests were conducted in the private sector laboratories (5,772 samples), against 647 samples handled by the public sector laboratories on September 27. 

In the meantime, Sindh stood second in the lists of provinces and territories in terms of confirmed COVID-19 cases detected among the health providers. As many as 1,690 doctors, 180 nurses and 303 paramedics and other staffs were detected positive for the virus in Sindh, as of September 28.

Coronavirus Update: Infection rate rises in Sindh

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh, which in recent days has witnessed inconstancy in its daily new COVID-19 infection rates, is inching closer to 2,500 fatalities, while authorities on September 27 here confirmed six more out of nine deaths due to the lethal virus reported in the country, along with 251 new infections detected across the province during the last 24 hours.

According to the data, Sindh’s daily infection rate maintained an uptrend on September 27, standing at 2.58%, which was 2.32% on September 26 and 1.42% on September 25. 

In all 11,708 samples were handled by the designated laboratories in the province during the last 24 hours ending at 8 am on September 27, which confirmed 185 (74%) new positive cases at Karachi. 

Karachi was followed by Hyderabad (7), Badin (7), Jacobabad (5), Jamshoro (4), Dadu (3), Larkana (2), Tando Allahyar (2), Ghotki (1), Shaheed Benazirabad (1), Khairpur (1), Sujawal (1), Sukkur (1) and others. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his COVID-19 related statement, shared that there at present were 3,772 patients, including 3,493 those receiving treatment at homes, six at isolation centres and 273 in hospitals, while 158 patients were stated in critical condition, along with 19 on ventilators. 

In the meantime, Sindh's fatalities reached to 2,492 on September 27, against country's tally of 6,466 deaths out of 310,841 infections.

Rotary Darakhshan, LPB join hands to discuss COVID-19’s impact on libraries

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Rotary Club of Karachi Darakhshan (RCKD), with the collaboration of Library Promotion Bureau (LPB), will be organizing a seminar on the subject of COVID-19’s impact on libraries at the bureau’s record office, housed in Liaquat Memorial Library, Karachi, on September 30. 

Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari and Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, two of the stalwarts of the profession of library and information science, along with some of the top Rotary leaders, will be sharing their thoughts on one of the most relevant topics these days. 

Jahangir Moghul, a former District Governor of Rotary International besides being Charter President of RCKD, Asim Murtaza Khan, President, RCKD, and Syed Khalid Mahmood, Vice President, RCKD, will also speak in the session which will begin with introductory remarks from Syed Ahmed Naqvi of LPB while Waqas Moghul, Secretary, RCKD, will present vote of thanks. 

The programme is being organized by RCKD, as part of Rotary International’s designated month of basic education and literacy.

Coronavirus Update: Downslide in Sindh

 Mukhtar Alam 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh, after a gap of a couple of days, witnessed a downslide in its daily numbers of COVID-19 cases on September 25, though the laboratories tested the samples beyond their collective maximum daily testing capacity of 14,940 during the last 24 hours.

Of the 16,976 samples examined during the last 24 hours, ending at 8 am on September 25, as many as 241 (1.42%) were declared new infections. The province’s daily infection rate was 2.5% on September 24 after being 2.22% on September 23. 

Sindh had registered 135,488 infections, since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country on February 26, while 129,396 (95.5%) have recovered from the diseases. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his routine COVID-19 statement, shared that four more patients died during the last 24 hours in the province, taking the tally of the disease's fatalities to 2,481 for the province, against Pakistan’s overall death figure of 6,451. 

He added that there were still 3,611 people infected people, who were receiving treatment at homes (3328), isolation centres (6), and hospitals 277, including 137 undergoing the critical phase of their health, while 13 were put on ventilators. 

Karachi reported 103 new cases, followed by Sujawal (18), Hyderabad (4), Dadu (4), Shaheed Benazirabad (3), Badin (2), Larkana (2), Matiari (2), Mirpurkhas (2), Sanghar (2), Shikarpur (2), Tharparkar (1), Thatta (1) and others.

Coronavirus Update: Sindh’s infection rate continues rising

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh’s daily COVID-19 infection rate continued rising for the third day running as the authorities in the government on September 24 confirmed detection of 401 new cases, with six more related fatalities across the province during the last 24 hours.

According to the data, Sindh had the rate of new infections as 1.4% on September 22, which increased to 2.5% on September 24 morning, taking the overall infection tally to 135,246 for the province, 129,101 of which were reported to have recovered from the diseases, while 2,477 lost their lives. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his COVID-19 status statement on September 24, shared that as many as 3,668 patients were receiving treatment at homes (3,776), isolation centres (5) and hospitals (287). At hospitals, 135 were told to be critical condition, while 14 were put on ventilators. 

In all 16,093 samples were examined at COVID-19 laboratories across Sindh during the last 24 hours ending at 8 am on September 24, out of which the maximum 244 (61%) from Karachi’s six districts were registered as new positive cases. Hyderabad reported 19 new cases, followed by Badin (8), Dadu (5), Tando Mohammad Khan (4), Jamshoro (4), Larkana (2), Matiari (2), Sukkur (2), Mirpurkhas (1), Sanghar (1), Jacobabad (1) and other districts.

Coronavirus Update: Sindh’s cases fluctuate

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh, with its fluctuating daily COVID-19 infection rates, registered three of the four related deaths reported in the country on September 21 when authorities here confirmed 296 new infections, out of 15,211 samples, during the last 24 hours.

Pakistan’s fourth COVID-19 fatality of the day was reported from Punjab, which had 59 new cases on September 21. 

Sindh registered an average 284 cases daily during the week till September 21. 

The daily new case numbers ranged from 227 to 341, while its total positive case tally came as 134,243. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his statement related to the COVID-19 status, shared that as many as 128,494 patients had recovered from the diseases, while 3,286 more, including 2,930 in home isolation, five in isolation centres and 351 in hospitals, were receiving treatment for the disease. 

He further stated that condition of 175 patients was stated critical while 20 were put on ventilators, as of September 21. 

According to official data, six districts of Karachi division reported 143 new cases, followed by Badin (25), Hyderabad (5), Matiari (4), Shikarpur (3), Sanghar (2), Shaheed Benazirabad (2), Umerkot (2), Dadu (2), Jacobabad (2), Larkana (1) and Sukkur (1).

The fluctuation in cases, particularly in the province of Sindh, has caused alarms and people have been under some kind of pressure in performing their duties at a time when almost every business activity has resumed.

Phase 3 trials for COVID-19 vaccine start in Pakistan

 By Masood Sattar Khan

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), on September 22, has announced the launch of phase 3 clinical trials in Pakistan for a potential vaccine being developed by China’s CanSino Biologics for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). 

The trials for the first couple of phases for the vaccine were held in China. Pakistan, under a public-private partnership between the National Institute of Health (NIH) and CanSino, is among the countries which will carry out Phase 3, the NCOC declared. 

The NIH Executive Director, Maj Gen Aamer Ikram, and the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Dr Faisal Sultan, during their joint press conference, described the trial as an important step in which the Pakistanis will also be taking part.

“The entire world is looking towards a vaccine right now. There are seven vaccines for which trials are being conducted, three of them developed in China. This CanSino vaccine is based on recombinant technology in which an adino-vector is made deficient. The virus vector and cell culture has been procured from Canada," Maj Gen Aamer Ikram remarked. 

Meanwhile the Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister, Asad Umar, also shared information on the subject. “Just launched the phase 3 trials for COVID-19 vaccine in Pakistan. Vaccine has been developed by a Chinese company. A total of 40,000 people will participate in this trial in seven countries, of which 8 to 10,000 will be Pakistanis. Initial results expected in 4 to 6 months,” he tweeted.

Coronavirus Update: Karachi registers 70% of Sindh infections

 By Mukhtar Alam 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Karachi division recorded 70% of the new COVID-19 cases detected across the province of Sindh on September 20 when one more patient was reported expired due to the virus during the last 24 hours.

Official reports revealed that in all 321 new cases were registered in 18 districts during the last 24 hours ending September 20 morning, with an overall daily infection rate of 2.43%, against 1.83% calculated on September 19. 

According to official COVID-19 data, Karachi registered an average 157 new cases every day during the week ending September 20. 

Its share in the total new cases reported across the province remained 53% on September 17, which increased up to 73% by September 19. 

Karachi’s different districts have so far added 86,512 COVID-19 cases to the overall Sindh’s tally, including the maximum 25852 from East district where a total 684 patients lost their lives due to the diseases in hospitals and homes, so far. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his statement related to COVID-19 status, shared that the new cases were found out of 13,198 samples, pushing the overall number of infections to 133,947 for the province. 

He informed that 2,793 infected persons were at present isolated in homes, while five at the isolation centres and 282 at various hospitals, including 179 critically ill patients, with another 168 people having recovered from the diseases during the last 24 hours. 

The reports said that 24 patients were receiving the ventilator intervention at various hospitals, including six at AKUH, five at CHK, four each at the Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research centre and Indus Hospital Karachi, on September 20. 

The new solitary fatality was reported from Badin which has registered a total 12 COVID-19 deaths, while there are still 152 active patients in the district. Earlier, Badin had reported one death, along with Karachi (three deaths), on September 18. 

The district wise breakdown of new infection remained as: Karachi (225), Dadu (97), Tando Allahyar (7), Hyderabad (6), Thatta (5), Jamshoro (5), Badin (3), Sujawal (3), Matiari (3), Tando Mohammad Khan (3), Larkana (2), Mirpurkhas (1), Shaheed Benazirabad (1) and others. 

In the meantime, an official summary related to samplings done in different targeted areas revealed the highest rate of COVID-19 infection, two percent, was found among people visiting shrines and attending urs/mela (congregations).

Coronavirus Update: No fatality day in Sindh

 By Mukhtar Alam 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh for the third time reported no COVID-19 fatality on September 19 when authorities confirmed 264 new cases during the last 24 hours across the province.

Since the outbreak of the lethal virus in the country, the province registered deaths among the virus infected patients every day, excepting September 5, 14 and 19. 

As of morning of September 19, according to official data, Sindh’s total of COVID-19 laboratory tests stood as 1,214,790, out of which 133,626 were found positive. 

The province’s overall infection rate remained 11%, against 9.67% of Pakistan. National dashboard on COVID-19 revealed that Sindh’s 264 (1.8%) positive cases came out of 14,352 samples examined during the last 24 hours. 

With 94 more patients recovered from the disease on September 19, taking the total of cured people to 128,239, while the death tally remained unchanged at 2,459, for the province. The district wise breakdown of new cases in Sindh was not made available by the provincial government, however.

Sindh delays middle schools reopening

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Minister for Education and Labour, Saeed Ghani, announced that the government has decided to defer the reopening of middle schools until September 23 as there were reports confirming the COVID-19 infections among teaching staff. 

"Unfortunately, educational institutions, both private and public, are not fully implementing the prescribed standard operating procedures," he observed in a press statement, while referring to his visits to some of the institutions allowed to resume teaching for Class IX and above classes from September 15 in the province. 

“Despite our efforts, we are seeing a lot of flaws and violations. Therefore we are delaying the second phase of resuming grade 6-8 classes. These classes were slated to resume on September 21 but now it will be pushed back to September 28, if the situation concerning the virus improves. But if the situation remains the same, we might review the decision on Sept 28 again," he added.

Coronavirus Update: 307 new cases in Sindh

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh, being unable to witness any consistency in its COVID-19 infection rates had its daily infection rate crossed 2% on September 17 when authorities confirmed detection of 307 new cases, with four more related fatalities, during the last 24 hours in the province.

The provincial figures of the new cases increased by 35% against the daily cases reported on September 16. The daily infection rate was recorded at 1.37% on September 14, which changed to 2.49%, 1.70% and 2.20% on September 15, 16 and 17, respectively. 

The COVID-19 data suggest that the province has been unable to witness any mark difference in terms of new infection during the last about one month. 

The province, which had been reporting over 300 new cases per day in the mid-August, even registering about 300 cases after a lapse of one month, keen observers noted and cautioned extra vigilance and preventive measures to avert any untoward, particularly when the market activities were in full swing and educational institutions and marriage halls had been allowed to resume their long-halted activities. 

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his routine COVID-19 statement, shared that with the addition of new cases on September 17 morning, the provincial overall tally of infection had risen to 133,125, while 127,991 patients recovered from the diseases. 

He further stated that of the 2,679 active patients, 2,410 were in home-isolation, four in isolation centres and 275 in hospitals, including 173 in critical condition and 23 put on ventilators. 

All the four new deaths were registered in Karachi. There were a couple of casualties in Karachi East while one person each passed away in Karachi Central and Karachi Korangi. The tally of deaths, so far, for East, Central and Korangi districts of Karachi stood at 687, 457 and 254, respectively. 

The district-wise breakdown of new cases came as: Karachi (163), Jamshoro (28), Matiari (18), Khairpur (14), Dadu (10), Hyderabad (9), Larkana (4), Kambar Shadadkot (3), Sujawal (3), Sukkur (3), Mirpurkhas (2), Tando Mohammad Khan (2), Shaheed Benazirabad (2), Naushero Feroze (1), Kashmore (1), Thatta (1), and Umerkot (1).

IBA suspends classes; campuses remain open

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, taking into account the COVID-19 related concerns, has suspended its academic activities for a couple of days, starting from September 17.

The main campus, housed in the premises of the University of Karachi, as well as the city campus, located in the Garden area, will remain open for operational matters throughout this period, however. They will continue providing the normal facilities.

The IBA Academic Board has decided that all classes for the various undergraduate degree programs would be based on flexible learning system for the time being. 

“Flexible learning system is where the classes would be conducted online while all IBA facilities would remain open and available to the undergraduate students including the classrooms. However, the Graduate programs students will attend the classes on campus,” it was announced. 

As part of the Flexible Learning System, it was also decided that attendance policy would be relaxed for the time being and situation would be monitored and policies may evolve over time. The hostel residents would be recommended to stay since assessments including the final examinations would be held physically. 

It was also decided to further increase the COVID-19 testing of the students, staff and faculty and enhance our SOPs to ensure the well-being and safety of the IBA community. 

The IBA, in coordination with District Health Office, has carried out hundreds of COVID-19 PCR tests for students, staff and faculty since September 14. Before the commencement of the session, detailed guidelines under the government directives were formulated and disseminated to students, staff and faculty. 

As a precautionary measure, isolation rooms at both the campuses and boys and girls hostels have been designated for individuals exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

Coronavirus Update: Sindh continues to have lion’s share in fatalities, infection

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh registered yet another 227 cases of COVID-19 infection, with three related fatalities during the last 24 hours, taking the overall tally of infection to 132,818 for the province on September 16.

According to the national dashboard on COVID-19, Sindh reported 42% of the total of 545 new cases across the country on September 16, while Sindh added three of the four to the overall daily tally in Pakistan. 

The COVID laboratories in the province collectively tested 13,314 samples, against Pakistan’s 31,808, during the last 24 hours ending September 16 morning. 

An official report said that the LUMHS laboratory at Hyderabad tested the maximum 8,155 samples, out of which 55 were positive for coronavirus, including 47 new infections, followed by Indus hospital laboratory at Karachi, which examined 1,589 samples and found 41 positive. 

The report revealed that among the targeted areas, shopping malls presented the highest rate of COVID-19 infection during a period from August 12 to September 16 being 2.1% cases out of 3,773 samples. 

About COVID-19 fatalities, it was said that three of the patients who lost their lives in the province belonged to Karachi’s East and South districts and Thatta. 

Karachi East has in all reported 683 deaths, against Karachi South (340) and Thatta (10). Earlier, the three persons who were reported dead due to COVID-19 on September 15 included a patient who lost his life at home. 

Over 96% of the COVID-19 patients were recorded as having recovered the diseases while about two percent could not survive the disease, as of September 16, according to official data. 

On the other hand, there were 2,554 (1.9%) active patients, as of September 16, including 2,276 in home-isolation, four in isolation centres, 274 in hospitals, including 149 declared critically ill, while 23 were put on ventilators. 

The new COVID-19 infections were registered at Karachi (106), followed by Jamshoro (16), Sanghar (8), Shaheed Benazirabad (6), Kashmore (6), Hyderabad (6), Matiari (5), Tando Allahyar (4), Umerkot (4), Badin (3), Naushero Feroze (3), Thatta (3), Tando Mohammad Khan (2), Mirpurkhas (2), Ghotki (2), Dadu (2), Jacobabad (1), Shikarpur (1) and others.