The Sindh government has decided to place Karachi under an emergency lockdown till August 8. Sindh Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah presided over a meeting of the provincial coronavirus task committee on Friday which decided to impose a smart Lockdown.
According to a handout released by the CM’s office, the restrictions will be in effect till August 8. Businesses in the export sector, on the other hand, will be allowed to operate. Travel within the city will be prohibited, and all markets will be closed. Pharmacies will be open.
The chief minister informed the meeting that vaccination cards of people will be verified on the streets. The government would shut down all its offices. He issued a warning that government employees who had not been vaccinated would not be paid after August 31.
Key decisions in the Sindh coronavirus task force meeting
- From next week, all government offices will be closed.
- After August 31, all unvaccinated government officials will not be given their salaries.
- People roaming the streets will have their vaccination cards checked.
- The export business will continue to operate.
- All the province’s markets will be closed, although pharmacies will remain open.
- Transport within the city will be closed.
Why did Karachi need a Lockdown?
Coronavirus is spreading like wildfire in Karachi.
- The percentage of positive people has surpassed 30%.
- There is no space in Hospitals for COVID patients.
- Oxygen tanks are in higher demand than ever before.
- Cases are still piling up on a regularly.
It has been estimated that for people who have not undergone a COVID-19 PCR test then the city’s positivity rate will likely reach 40%.
The coronavirus death rate in Sindh reaches 12.7% in a week
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced on Wednesday that the province has had 24 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, making it the highest figure thus far. Meanwhile, Sindh has detected an additional 2,672 cases.
According to the chief minister, the greatest positive rate in Karachi was registered in:
- East district at 33%
- 21% in Korangi district
- 19% in West district
- The positive rate in the South and Malir areas was 17 percent.
The meeting revealed that 469 Covid-19 patients had died in Karachi in the previous 29 days, with 323 on ventilators and 50 dying at home.
NCOC
The NCOC has agreed to support the Sindh government in countering the rising trend of coronavirus in the province, particularly in Karachi, by taking all available measures.
