“Yesterday, 20,421 coronavirus tests were carried out, including 9,000 in Karachi,” announced Prime Minister Murad Ali Shah after a meeting of the provincial working group on COVID-19, which was attended by the provincial ministers and the general secretary of the police, Agencies, and representatives of the World Health Organization.
He found that 2,076 cases had tested positive in the previous 24 hours, which translates to a positivity rate of 10.2%. In the provincial capital Karachi, the positivity rate has risen to 16.82 percent.
On Wednesday, the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) announced the easing of several restrictions restricting mobility during the ongoing third wave of the pandemic, including a gradual reopening of educational facilities.
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The resumption of outdoor dining in restaurants; the resumption of tourism; and approval for wedding receptions of up to 150 guests.
Shah expressed concern about the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in Sindh, saying the province reported 1,232 coronavirus cases a week ago on May 13.
“After Eid, there were 2,076 cases on May 19, which is 10.2% positivity,” he said. “It shows that Sindh cases are on the rise,” he said, adding that it was “difficult” to relax NCOC-recommended restrictions.
Sources said the task force meeting decided to review the existing restrictions on Saturday, adding that guidelines could be relaxed if the situation improved by then. If there is no visible decline, further restrictions should be imposed.
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