STAFF REPORTER
KARACHI The Sindh province will go under a three-day lockdown, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced on Friday, as the number of local or ‘social contact’ cases rose from 40 to 51. “People should go into complete isolation for three days,” Shah said during the 23rd meeting of the provincial task force on coronavirus. The Chief Minister said, “It is important for people to remain inside their homes” for themselves and other’s safety During its briefing to the committee, the Sindh health department informed the participants that there were 151 cases in Sukkur. The results of 420 samples from Sukkur Phase 2 were yet to be released as were those of 83 samples from Larkana. The local cases in Sindh, on the other hand, rose to 51, the provincial health department told the meeting. “1,874 suspected cases of coronavirus were brought to the public hospitals Friday. Of these, 21 have been tested,” the department added. “702 suspected cases of coronavirus were brought to the private hospitals. Of these, five have been tested. “In total, 31 flights carrying 3,710 passengers were scheduled for Friday and all passengers who arrived have been screened. Samples of four passengers, who were suspected to have been infected by the coronavirus, have been obtained,” the department noted. CM Shah, in this regard, saidtherisingnumberofSindh’s localcaseswas“extremelyconcerning”. “This is why I’m appealing to the people to stay inside their homes. People need not only save themselves but theirchildrenaswell,”headded. Inspector-GeneralofPolice for Sindh Mushtaq Mehar said late Friday no more than five people should gatherinthe cars, on the roads or any other location and that legal action would be taken in case of violation. “The first and foremost actionagainstapandemicistolimit people’s movement. People shouldreducetheirtravelling[inside the city] to as less as possible,” Mehar added. Unnecessary meeting, gatherings, and socialcommunicationshouldbe avoided, the IG noted, adding that police should issue a clear guidance on the limitation on people’smovement. Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani refuted claims of a province-widelockdownorcurfew, saying that the provincial chief minister had asked people tostayathomeduringMarch21, 22 and 23. “I urge media not to spread information without confirmation,” he added.
