KARACHI: While its daily COVID-19 infection rates appeared almost stable for last a week, Sindh confirmed its single-day highest of 48 deaths, among the patients infected with the virus on June 18, pushing the provincial fatality tally to 964.

According to data provided by the Sindh health department, the previous highest one-day new infections was recorded as 21.38% on June 12, which dipped to 19.35% on June 16 but rose again to 20.69% on June 18.

The province had a total 776 deaths till June 11, which climbed to 853 on June 15, 916 on June 17 and 964 on June 18.

On an average 27 patients died every day during June 12 to 18. Sindh’s overall fatality rate came as 1.54% on June 18, against the national CFR 1.93%, while its overall infection moved to 18.28% as against Pakistan’s 16% since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.

As per the health department daily summary, with 24,981 infection cases, Karachi reported, as usual, the maximum fatalities of 44 persons, including 31 men and 13 women, on June 18, followed by Sukkur (2), Larkana (1) and Kambar Shahdadkot (1).

At Karachi, male patients who lost their lives, understandably at hospitals and homes, were living within the age brackets of 44 to 85 years while the deceased women were aged from 48 to 84 years.

Sukkur recorded deaths of two more women, who were 58 and 68-year-old respectively while Larkana and Kambar Shahdadkot registered death of one woman each. They were 85 and 61-year-old respectively.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his statement updating on coronavirus situation, said that the relevant deaths of citizens had highly pained him.

“May Allah Almighty grant patience to the aggrieved families,” he prayed.

He further said that there were 30,271 COVID-19 patients receiving treatment across the Sindh, including 28,705 isolated at homes, 64 in the designated isolation centres and 1,502 at hospitals. As many as 664 patients, including 97 on ventilators, were stated to be in critical condition.

As many as 1,719 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Karachi during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am on June 18, followed by Hyderabad (109), Sukkur (76), Khairpur (70), Ghotki (64), Shaheed Benazirabad (59), Larkana (30), Kashmore (30), Jamshoro (26), Dadu (22), Mirpurkhas (19), Jacobabad (14), Kambar Shadadkot (10), Shikarpur (8), Tando Allahyar (7), Naushero Feroze (5), Thatta (4), Sujawal (2), Sanghar (2), Tando Mohammad Khan (1), Matiari (1) and Badin (1).

Sindh, weathering the storm of COVID-19, has tested 340,487 samples so far, it was revealed officially–PNFS