Record 23 deaths reported in 24 hours

By Muhammad YaseenPublished On 06 Jan 2023

ISLAMABAD: Just two days after the government’s announcement relaxing the lockdown, a record number of 23 deaths and staggering 627 cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported during the last 24 hours, taking the tally of confirmed cases to 7,010, with 134 deaths on Thursday.

Experts fear that the number of cases will further increase due to lockdown relaxation, especially during the month of Ramazan as Taraweeh, Aitkaf and roadside arrangements for Iftar and Sehri will become a breeding ground for the deadly virus.

An official of the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) said that for the first time 5,300 tests, as compared to normal practice of around 3,000, were conducted during the last 24 hours. He revealed that half of the cases confirmed during this period were found among the people who had participated in the Tableeghi congregation at Raiwind.

However, Special Assis­tant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza, while talking, said the number of cases should not be linked to the easing of lockdown. “Actually, there were a lot of people in quarantine and sometimes it happens when the testing is done in lots. A similar spike was observed on April 7 when around 700 cases were reported within 24 hours,” he added. “Second thing is that we have tested 5,300 persons, as compared to 3,000, in 24 hours due to which the number of cases also doubled.”

Friday lockdown in Sindh

The Sindh government on Thursday announced that there would be a complete lockdown from 12 noon to 3pm on Friday (today), like the past few weeks, advising people not to come out of their houses for Juma prayers, after prominent clerics and noted scholars of the country from different schools of thought, who had earlier this week announced resumption of five-time congregational prayers, assured the chief minister of their cooperation to wait till a consensus strategy was evolved by the federal government.

During a meeting bet­ween Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and a delegation of clerics led by Ruet-i-Hilal Committee chairman Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman at the CM House, the two sides agreed on a complete three-hour lockdown on Friday, vowing to follow the consensus decision which was expected on Saturday when Prime Min­ister Imran Khan was scheduled to hold talks with ulema.

“I am really thankful to Mufti Muneeb and other ulema for understanding and agreeing to our request,” CM Shah told reporters flanked by the clerics. “As we have decided, we would be imposing complete three-hour lockdown tomorrow from 12 noon to 3pm. We appeal to the people to offer prayers at home and those who are part of the administration of the mosque may hold congregational Juma prayers at Masajid. I have also asked the police to show respect for the people offering pra­yers at mosques,” he said.

Earlier, Mufti Muneeb, in his brief media address, expressed the hope that the Saturday meeting with the prime minister would lead to a consensus decision that would lead to resumption of congregational prayers under the defined guidelines.