10 percent of Covid-19 cases in Sindh are locally dispatched

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday wrote with fear that 10 percent of the total number of Covid-19 cases in the province were provincially dispatched, terming it a "dangerous trend."

While chairing a conference at the CM House in Karachi, Shah declared that locally transmitted cases required to be held by taking further careful measures. He pointed out that excluding the ones reported amongst travelers in Larkana and Sukkur, there were 168 cases in the province, of which 102 were locally dispatched.

"This shows that local transmission is still proceeding. Therefore, we all have to recognize complete lockdown, or we will not be in a position to control it," he said.

The chief minister said that people required to "understand the gravity of the ongoing situation."

"Therefore, I have decided to reduce the operating hours of supermarkets and stores by three hours from Saturday," he declared, saying that all grocery stores will be closed by 5pm every evening. Previously, the government had approved supermarkets to remain unlocked until 8pm.

Chief Minister Shah told Inspector General of Police Sindh Mushtaq Mahar to ensure that the rules were complied with.

Referring to limitations on prayer meetings in the province, the chief minister said that it was a tough decision to make, but it was "aimed at saving people from the local transmission."

The Sindh government had announced yesterday that congregations comprising more than five people will not be allowed.

Mixed reaction to limitations on prayer gatherings

A mixed response was seen to the provincial government's restrictions on Friday prayer gatherings in the metropolis and other parts of Sindh, according to observers and officials.

Law enforcers tried to prevent gathering at mosques but avoided taking any strict action apparently due to the sensitivity of the matter.

A few mosques in the Kharadar and Burns Road areas of Karachi refused to follow the restrictions.

Meanwhile, Additional Inspector General of Police Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon said that barring some mosques, the majority of mosques' administrations in the provincial capital reacted emphatically to the restrictions on Friday congregations.

He added that three persons were arrested in Karachi over the destruction of limitations on the Juma prayer.

Police sources said that a total of 169 people were arrested across the province on Friday over violation of Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and hoarding of masks, sanitizers, and gloves, etc.

About 440 cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported in Sindh. Most of the cases have been identified in people with recent travel history. However, the number of locally spread cases is increasing. So far, 14 people have been cured.