KARACHI: In the wake of an alarming rise in Covid-19 cases, particularly of the Omicron variant, city administration has imposed ‘micro-smart’ lockdowns in several areas of the metropolis, it emerged on Sunday.

Over 3,100 new cases emerged during the last 24 hours in the province and Karachi’s share stood at 2,480. District South topped the list with 811 new cases.

The micro-smart lockdowns are imposed in many parts of district Central, including Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Gulberg, North Karachi, Liaquatabad, etc after emergence of 106 cases of the Omicron variant in a single day.

The deputy commissioner-South also imposed micro-smart lockdowns in streets/localities of Garden, Saddar, Civil Lines, Eidgah Lane, Sunset Street, DHA Phase-II, Naval Heights, Clifton Tower, Iqbal Lane, Boat Basin, Khayaban-i-Shaheen, etc.

Aged population associated with co-morbidities termed vulnerable to virus

Deputy Commissioner-Central Taha Saleem has issued a notification, imposing micro-smart lockdowns in several union committees of Gulberg, North Nazimabad, North Karachi and Liaquatabad.

The notification stated that the micro-smart lockdown shall be enforced in streets and houses of specified areas for a definite period of two weeks starting from Jan 22 till Feb 5.

During the lockdown, the movement of people would be restricted in the hotspot areas. The lockdown was imposed on recommendation from the district health officer.

According to the DC’s order, hotspots have emerged with spread of Covid-19 in various areas of the district Central, “which may lead to a potential public health emergency for general public especially vulnerable high-risk aged population associated with co-morbidities, having the highest mortality ratio and increased susceptibility to requirements for critical care.

“In order to reduce the transmission and spread of Covid-19, besides mandatory mask wearing and social distancing interventions, it is also fundamental to ensure isolation, contact tracing and testing being three pillars of strategy of the govt for containment of Covid-19,” it said.

Three more patients die

Three patients of coronavirus died overnight lifting the death toll to 7,741 and 3,108 new cases emerged when 16,469 tests were conducted.

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said in a statement that three more deaths lifting the death toll to 7,741 that constituted 1.5 per cent death rate.

He said that 16,469 samples were tested, which detected 3,108 cases that constituted 18.9pc current detection rate.

He added that so far 7,467,836 tests had been conducted against which 524,797 cases were diagnosed, of them 90.5pc, or 474,819 patients, have recovered, including 464 overnight.

The CM said that currently 42,237 patients were under treatment and 41,775 of them were in home isolation, 30 at isolation centres and 432 at different hospitals.

He added that the condition of 368 patients was stated to be critical, including 23 put on ventilators.

According to the statement, out of 3,108 new cases 2,480 have been detected in Karachi.

According to district-wise statistics 811 cases were reported from district South, East 704, Central 448, Hyderabad 258, Korangi 242, Malir 155 and 120 cases were reported from West district.

It said 28 cases are detected in Kashmore, Sanghar 27, Sujawal and Tando Mohammad Khan 25 each, Badin 24, Ghotki 23, Sukkur 20, Tharparkar 17, Thatta and Mirpurkhas 16 each, Nawabshah and Dadu 14 each, Matiari 12, Jamshoro and Tando Allahyar 10 each, Umarkot nine, Larkana, Shikarpur and Jacobabad eight each, Khairpur and Naushahro Feroze two each cases.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2022