The Sindh Health Department has dismissed recent media reports claiming that four people in Karachi died due to COVID-19. In a statement shared by ARY News on Saturday, the department clarified that the deceased individuals were all over 60 years old and suffered from pre-existing health conditions. They were admitted to a private hospital, and their deaths were not related to COVID-19, the statement emphasized.
The department urged the public and media to refrain from spreading unverified or exaggerated information, warning that such misinformation could lead to public panic and confusion. Earlier reports had linked the deaths to a supposed rise in COVID-19 cases, coinciding with Karachi’s current heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 40°C.
Medical Expert Comments on Case Spike
Dr. Syed Faisal Mahmood, an infectious diseases expert at Aga Khan University Hospital, acknowledged a noticeable rise in COVID-19 cases recently. He described the increase as unusual for the summer months, noting that the virus typically spreads more in colder seasons when indoor gatherings and lower humidity facilitate transmission.
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Background and Government Clarification
COVID-19, which emerged in late 2019 and sparked a global pandemic in 2020, has seen occasional surges in recent times. However, health officials continue to call for calm. Earlier this year, media reports claimed that up to 30% of patients with cold and flu symptoms in Karachi were testing positive for COVID-19. Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho dismissed those claims, stating, “There is no cause for alarm. COVID-19 is not actively spreading in Karachi or elsewhere. The virus has largely subsided globally.”
