5 More Sindh Policemen Infected
5 more Sindh policemen were diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease on April 8, raising the total number of infected police officials in the province to 115. According to a police spokesperson, 97 are undergoing treatment for the virus, 15 have been discharged after completing treatment in quarantine while 2 succumbed to the virus in the past week. 1 sub-inspector is currently battling for his life.
Virus Patients Occupy 54% Beds In Punjab
54% of beds in state hospitals across Punjab are currently occupied by COVID-19 patients, according to health department representatives, while 3,693 confirmed cases emerged in the province in the past week alone. Most of the confirmed patients were sent to the Lahore Expo Center Field Hospital, which is currently housing 450 patients and has a 1000 bed capacity. Meanwhile, 70% of the beds in Mayo Hospital are occupied by COVID-19 patients.
Health officials expect virus patients will occupy 80% of hospital beds in the province if the rate at which people are being infected does not fall. With the government imposing a ‘smart lockdown’, under which restrictions will be considerably eased, health experts worry that the spread of the virus will be faster and deadlier than before.
Operation Theaters Sealed In Sindh
The operation theaters of the eyes, nose and throat (ENT) department of the Chandka Medical College Hospital in Larkana, Sindh, were sealed after 4 medics, including a female doctor, were diagnosed with the virus. While the theaters have been sealed for disinfection and are expected to be reopened within 2 days, the head of the ENT department said that ENT staff members come in regular contact with COVID-19 patients and that the hospital should immediately ensure PPE provisions for medics.
Tele-Consultation For Home Isolation
Local and international health experts have advised the Sindh government to devise a teleconsultation service to advise and monitor COVID-19 patients currently in home isolation. Concerns were raised after authorities received reports of asymptomatic patients in home isolation in Sindh who inexplicably passed away.
Lab Sealed For Not Reporting Patients
Punjab authorities seal a coronavirus testing laboratory in Rawalpindi’s Bahria Town for allegedly failing to report over 40 coronavirus-positive patients. The lab reportedly was operating illegally as it was set up without approval from Punjab Healthcare Commission, and did not follow standard SOPs for COVID-19 testing labs.