Doctors Protest Cardiac Hospital Closure
Doctors and staff protest the extended closure of the Red Crescent Institute of Cardiology in Latifabad, Hyderabad – the facility had initially been sealed for disinfection due to an outbreak, however staff and healthcare workers were informed that the closure would last a few days. However, protesters claim that three weeks have since passed, as the administration cities a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) as the reason for the extended closure. Demonstrators say that the staff has been told to go on.
leave without pay or dismissed entirely, while patients are greatly suffering without the facilities offered by Hyderabad’s largest cardiac hospital.
7 More Lahore Localities Under Lockdown
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid announces the closure of seven more Lahore localities during a press briefing in Lahore. Areas including Garden Town, Model Town, Faisal Town, Gulberg, DHA and Gulshan-e-Ravi to remain under lockdown restrictions due to flagrant SOP violations until June 30.
Pakistan 7th Most Infectious Country
With a daily positivity rate (positive cases against total daily tests) of 14.68%, Pakistan is currently the seventh most infectious country in the world. A high positivity rate may indicate low daily testing, as Pakistan may be opting to test only the sick rather than conduct mass tests, experts say.
3,000 Pakistanis Critically ill
Around 3,000 COVID-19 patients in Pakistan are in critical condition as the country’s case fatality rate nearly doubles to 4% in the span of a few days. According to experts, 90% of virus patients on ventilator do not survive – meanwhile recovery rate also increases to 43% from around 30% nearly a week ago.
Daily Testing in Sindh Slumps
Sindh’s daily testing capacity has been raised to 18,000, yet only 1,000 new cases are being detected on average in province as actual testing hovers around 6,000 a day. Current daily testing records are roughly half of the amount of tests being conducted prior to the imposition of the lockdown in Sindh’s virus hotspots.
Sindh Lockdown Disregarded
Non-essential services and businesses carry on as normal in Sindh’s sealed zones despite the presence of police and please by authorities to adhere to health guidelines. Shopkeepers and commuters fail to adhere to social distancing protocols, and are seen roaming in public spaces without masks and gloves.
