KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Azra Pechuho has rejected claims of a surge in Covid-19 cases in Karachi, urging citizens not to panic, ARY News reported on Monday.
“There is no spread of coronavirus in Karachi,” Pechuho reassured, adding that the virus has largely disappeared worldwide. She also called for an end to misinformation and sensationalism regarding the situation.
As a precautionary measure, routine tests were conducted on individuals with common cold symptoms, and only seven out of 100 tested showed mild indications of the virus, she stated.
The health minister emphasized that COVID-19 has now become similar to a seasonal cold globally and assured there is no cause for concern.
Recent reports, however, suggested an increase in Covid cases in Karachi, with 25 to 30 percent of individuals experiencing cold and cough symptoms testing positive for the virus.
Professor Saeed Khan, an infectious disease expert at Dow Hospital, noted a rise in patients reporting symptoms such as fever, cough, and cold. According to him, 25 to 30 percent of these cases have been confirmed as COVID-19, while 10 to 12 percent have tested positive for Influenza H1N1, and 5 to 10 percent of children are suffering from respiratory infections.
He further highlighted that the overlapping symptoms of COVID-19, Influenza H1N1, and other seasonal viruses often lead people to avoid testing, resulting in undiagnosed cases.
