KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Azra Pechuho has dismissed reports suggesting a rise in COVID-19 cases in Karachi.
“Do not panic; COVID-19 is not spreading in Karachi,” the health minister assured. “The coronavirus has largely disappeared worldwide,” she added.
Pechuho urged against creating unnecessary alarm with fake news, emphasizing the need for responsible reporting.
“As a precautionary measure, tests were conducted on patients with common cold symptoms, and only seven out of 100 showed mild symptoms of COVID-19,” she stated.
The minister reassured citizens that COVID-19 now resembles a seasonal cold globally and advised them not to worry.
However, recent reports indicate a possible uptick in COVID-19 cases in Karachi. Approximately 25 to 30 percent of patients presenting with cold and cough symptoms have tested positive for the virus, according to infectious disease expert Professor Saeed Khan of Dow Hospital.
Professor Khan noted an increase in cases of cold, cough, and fever in the city, with testing confirming COVID-19 in a significant portion of these patients. He also revealed that 10 to 12 percent of patients are being diagnosed with Influenza H1N1, while 5 to 10 percent of children are exhibiting signs of respiratory infections.
Khan explained that the symptoms of COVID-19, Influenza H1N1, and other seasonal viral infections are similar, which may lead many to forego testing, delaying diagnosis and treatment.