LARKANA: Seven suspected Covid-19 patients, who were quarantined at an isolation centre set up at a hostel in the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Arija campus, tested positive for coronavirus on Friday. In addition, a Chinese-origin member of the Tableeghi Jamaat also tested positive in Hyderabad.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Syed Athar Shah said the infected persons, who were among 83 people in the isolation centre and had recently returned from Iran, would now be separated from others and lodged in another building for treatment.

The remaining 76 who tested negative for the virus would however remain another week at the centre to complete their 14-day quarantine period, he said, adding that ages of the infected persons ranged between 20 and 40 years.

Tableeghi Jamaat man of Chinese-origin also found with virus in Hyderabad

The 83 persons were labourers who had sneaked into Iran through unconventional routes along the Iran border in Turbat, Balochistan, and returned via Qubo Saeed Khan on March 19, said sources.

HYDERABAD: A Muslim man of Chinese origin, a member of the Tableeghi Jamaat who was staying at Noor Masjid in Wahdat Colony, tested positive for coronavirus on Friday, raising total of Covid-19 positive cases of Hyderabad to four.

The 19-year-old was brought to Kohsar’s quarantine facility in Latifabad along with his brother on Thursday and his sample was obtained for coronavirus test along with others. He had come from China in 2016 and had reportedly stayed in Raiwind regularly.

Sources said that he and his brother had visited another district in lower Sindh and he would now to be shifted to isolation ward in Liaquat University Hospital’s city branch where a confirmed Covid-19 patient, a woman from Dadu, was also admitted.

The teenage boy who had tested positive for coronavirus a day before was recovering fast at his house. His father was under treatment for the virus at a private hospital in Karachi.

Meanwhile, most mosques followed government directive to postpone congregational prayers for Juma over the virus fears and muezzins made announcements asking the faithful to offer prayers at their homes while some mosques did offer Friday prayers in defiance of the ban.

People who turned up at the mosques did not argue with policemen and Rangers deployed outsides the masjids to enforce the ban and returned peacefully when asked by the law enforcers, hence no case was lodged.

Worshipers gathered outside Faizan-i-Madina Masjid in Effendi Town and the law enforcers tried to prevent people who insisted on offering prayers inside the masjid.

Muezzins and prayer leaders offered Friday prayers inside mosques with a handful of faithful with the main gates padlocked.

Dargah Sakhi Abdul Wahab Shah Jilani, which hosted one of the biggest congregations in the city, and Qadamgah Maula Ali located adjacent to the shrine remained completely sealed off and all main roads wore a deserted look.

NAWABSHAH: Police arrested over a dozen out of 25 faithful, including prayer leaders, booked for organising and participating in Friday congregational prayers in violation of government ban.

Police lodged FIRs at A-Section, B-Section and Airport police stations against three prayer leaders and 22 worshippers under Section 188, 269 and 270 PPC and arrested over a dozen.

BADIN: People in this district kept complaining about steep rise in prices of essential commodities and demanded authorities take stern action against hoarders and profiteers who were taking undue advantage of the situation.

Reports from small towns and villages revealed that the ban on gatherings was not followed and villagers appeared to care little about the virus threat. Not only did they offer congregational prayers they also huddled together to play games.

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Agriculture and focal person for coronavirus situation in Badin Ismail Rahu told Dawn that relief operation would be launched in the district to provide ration to deserving people within next few days in a very transparent manner.

SUKKUR: Police took into custody 64 faithful, among them prayer leaders, for violating government ban on organising congregational prayer during lockdown period.

Police held them when they were coming out of mosques in different localities of Sukkur and Rohri and lodged a case against them under Section 188. However, they were released later after the intervention of notables.

MIRPURKHAS: Daily-wagers were awaiting government help to feed their families as they were not able to earn their bread and butter during the lockdown.

The district administration, meanwhile, had received funds for distribution of ration among the deserving people. Committees would be set up to ensure distribution of ration among the poor without discrimination, said Deputy Commissioner Zahid Hussain Memon.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2020