KARACHI: Sindh remained third in the list of provinces in terms of daily COVID-19 cases on September 14 when the authorities in Karachi confirmed registration of 166 (1.37%) new infections, out of 12,093 tests, during the last 24 hours across the province, with no new fatality.

According to data, the COVID-19 testing laboratories in Sindh conducted 44% of Pakistan’s total 27,277 tests during the last 24 hours ending on morning of September 14.

Balochistan topped the list by reporting 11.45% new cases out of 227 tests, followed by KPK (4.05% new positivity rate) followed by Punjab (0.62%).

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his daily COVID-19 status statement, shared that the overall provincial infection figure had reached to 132,250, including 127,626 cured patients and 2,445 who lost their lives.

According to his statement, 2,179 patients were still receiving treatment at homes (1,897), in isolation centre (six), and at hospitals (276) while the condition of 163 patients was stated critical with 19 being on ventilators.

The district wise breakdown of new cases came as: Karachi (74), Hyderabad (16), Badin (13), Umerkot (9), Ghotki (8), Thatta (5), Kambar Shahdadkot (7), Khairpur (2), Larkana (2), Naushero Feroze (2), Shaheed Benaziarabad (2), Shikarpur (2), Sujawal (2), Sukkur (2), Tando Allahyar (2), Jamhsoro (1), Tharpakar (1), Dadu (1) and others.

According to an official report, the Field Healthcare Centre at Karachi Expo had no patients in its intensive care unit while two patients were admitted at its high dependency unit, in addition to one patient being treated in its massive 1,200-bed isolation centre.

In the meantime, a meeting of the Coronavirus Emergency Fund (CEF), held with the Sindh Chief Secretary, Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah, in the chair, on September 14 decided to close down the field isolation centres established months before at the Karachi Expo Centre and PAF Museum Karachi. An official summary will be sent to the Chief Minister, seeking his approval for the closure of the two centres, soon, according to a government handout–PNFS