KARACHI: The Sindh health department data, released on May 18, showed that COVID-19 infections were rising in the province again, just days after the province eased its lockdown restrictions.

Karachi division, which reported on average 552 new infection per day during the last week (May 11 to 17) and 437 cases in the preceding week, recorded 733 new cases on the first day of the third week, which can also be attributed to the second highest increase of 864 cases in the provincial tally of new coronavirus infections on May 18.

Sindh’s all days’ highest was witnessed on May 9 when the province generated overall 1,080 news cases, including 691 in Karachi.

A study of the COVID-19 data pertaining to Sindh revealed that the province had been showing new cases gradually on decrease after May 8. On average the province has reported 701 cases per day since May 9.

Among districts of Karachi, according to an official report updated on May 18, South housed the maximum 2,812 COVID-19 patients, followed by East (2,775 patients), Central (2,204), Malir (1,807), West (1,437) and Korangi (1,159).

On May 18, Sindh had 10,485 COVID-19 infected people in quarantine, while another 1,406 in hospitals, including 1296 clinically stable, 83 critically ill but not utilizing ventilators and 31 using ventilators.

A keen observer said that number of cases could increase further in the coming days, due to Youm-e-Ali congregation, Eid holidays and ease in COVID-19 restrictions and reduced social distancing, provided the authorities ensured the existing level of testing.

In the meantime, three more patients died of COVID-19 in Karachi, including one man aged 40 years and two women aged 55 and 48 respectively raising the tally of coronavirus related death to 234 for the megapolis and 280 for the province.

Besides new COVID-19 cases of Karachi, Ghotki reported 31 new cases, followed by Hyderabad (30), Larkana (21), Sukkur (17), Kambar Shahdadkot (7), Shikarpur (7), Kashmore (5), Thatta (5), Naushehro Feroz (2) and Matiari (2) while Jacobabad, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad and Khairpur reported one case each.

As many as 14 testing laboratories, out of 20, tested 4,679 samples from suspected people, taking the number of tests conducted to 127,573 in the province so far. Sindh has tested 17241 people positive for COVID-19–PNFS