109 pilgrims in Sukkur test positive: Number of coronavirus cases in Sindh rises to 394

The number of coronavirus cases in Sindh has reached 394, including 83 of local transmission in the city and 109 of Sukkur. Out of 833 pilgrims who had arrived in Sukkur, 109 tested positive. This was disclosed at the 26th meeting of the Task Force on coronavirus held here under the chairmanship of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, Mayor Karachi, Chief Secretary, IG Sindh, PSCM, Additional Chief Secretary Home, Additional IG, representatives of WHO, Aga Khan Hospital, Indus Hospital, Corps 5, Rangers, airport, the Civil Aviation, the FIA, Focal Person of health dept and others.
The chief minister was told that the tally of coronavirus cases has reached 394. They include 134 in Karachi/other districts, 151 of pilgrims of Sukkur phase-1 and 109 of Sukkur Phase-II. The number of local transmission cases was 83.
The chief minister said that was why he had taken the tough decision of lockdown.
At present 109 returnee pilgrims were under treatment in Sukkur, 83 in Larkana and 98 in Malir, Karachi. Test capacity: The overall current capacity of coronavirus samples tests in 10 hospitals all over Sindh was 1,200 a day. The chief minister said that he had provided necessary resources, and, therefore, the capacity must be increased to 3,400 tests per day. Until last week the capacity was just 180 tests per day. Daily reports: The daily reports submitted by 29 government hospitals said that 1,874 cases of pneumonia were dealt with by them and 18 were tested while the private hospitals reported 702 cases and 19 of them were found requiring coronavirus tests.
The chief minister was told that six international flights brought 987 passengers who were screened, and only one passenger was found suspect and his sample had been sent for tests. The domestic flights brought 918 passengers and two of them were thought to be coronavirus suspects, and their samples were sent for tests.
Lockdown: The Control Room established at S&GA received 153 complaints. Out of them 104 were about closure of shops, two about violation of lockdown, and one about failure of electricity.
The chief minister was told that different organizations had requested the control room for exemption from the lockdown for their essential staff members. The chief minister directed the chief secretary to look into the matter.
The chief minister directed IG Police to further tighten the lockdown.
Early disbursement of Pension: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has directed Finance department to start giving pensions to retired employees of the provincial government from March 25.
"The elderly people have a weak immune system, and they should not be allowed to gather at banks at a time," he said and issued directives that their pensions be paid to them from March 25.
Withholding of funds: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in the province has decided to adopt necessary measures to control the expenditures of the provincial government. Therefore, he decided that other than regular salaries and pensions, all the payments such as commutation, gratuity, encashment of LPR would stand withheld.