The death of a top doctor who contracted coronavirus, as well as the infection rate in Karachi approaching 40% on Sunday, sent shockwaves through the medical community, which had predicted that the fifth wave of Covid-19 would peak in the middle of next month.
They stated that more than 500 city health employees had lately been infected with coronavirus, and that at this rate, the city’s health system would be seriously harmed.
The news of Prof Salahuddin Sheikh’s death emerged first.
The murdered doctor was a renowned paediatrician affiliated with the Aga Khan University Hospital, according to Dr Qaiser Sajjad, secretary general of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA).
The incident came amid concerns that the number of Covid-19 patients in the medical community was increasing.
AKUH doctor dies from an infection; 2,348 new cases have been discovered in the city.
The infection rate in Karachi reached 39.39 percent in the last 24 hours, according to the health department. It stated that the Omicron variation was responsible for nearly 95% of the recorded cases.
Although the authorities were unsure of the actual number of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and other healthcare personnel infected, they were concerned that the number of infections was rapidly increasing.
“I don’t think it’ll be less than 500,” said a senior official who did not want to be identified. “Doctors, paramedics, and even administrative employees from several public and private institutions are present. The majority of them are at home. All of this happened within a week or ten days.”
The situation has prompted the medical community to issue an alert and ask for rapid action from both the government and society.
“We don’t want a lockdown; we want the business to go on,” said Dr. Sajjad, who is also a member of the Chief Minister’s Coronavirus Task Force. “However, we must take action. Vaccination and the establishment of SOPs are both critical at this time (standard operating procedures). The government must make certain that SOPs are followed. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen any meaningful moves from the administration in terms of putting SOPs into practise in their genuine spirit.”
He stated that a big number of members of the medical community had already become ill as a result of Covid-19, which may wreak havoc on the city’s health system.
“Data says it’s around 40%,” Dr. Sajjad remarked. “However, keep in mind that this is the number of people who have been registered or documented.” Many people, I believe, are infected with the virus yet stay unregistered. So, if we don’t move quickly and act now, the situation could deteriorate in a matter of weeks.”
He demanded a ban on all public gatherings, whether political or social, as well as significant government action against firms that violate SOPs.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced that three more coronavirus patients died overnight, bringing the total number of deaths to 7,697, and 2,670 new cases were discovered after 15,172 tests were completed across the province.
Mr Shah stated that 15,172 samples were analysed, with 2,670 cases being found, resulting in a 17.6% current detection rate.
According to the CM, there are currently 21,133 individuals undergoing treatment, with 20,850 of them in home isolation, 26 in isolation centres, and 257 in various hospitals. He went on to say that 237 patients’ conditions were critical, with 19 being placed on ventilators.
According to the statement, 2,348 new cases have been discovered in Karachi, with 824 in the East, 548 in the South, 535 in the Central, 196 in Malir, 135 in the West, and 110 in the East.
