KARACHI: Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Sindh, met with Dr Irshad Memon, Director, EPI, and Dr Sohail Shiekh, Covid Focal Person, to discuss the rising cases of COVID-19. 

The Minister for Health stated that there must be continued awareness regarding the importance of wearing face masks, getting the COVID-19 vaccine booster shot four months after the previous shot and practising social distancing. 

Azra Pechuho Stressed On The Essence of COVID-19 Booster in Sindh

Dr Azra said that the city could not be forced to go under another lockdown which is why it is indispensable that the community at large understands the importance of covid SOPs and follows them. 

Dr Azra said that masks must be made mandatory for all indoor spaces in Sindh, especially cinemas and the like, so there is no more increase in infection. People are not taking the precautions they used to, which is another reason why the cases of COVID-19 are increasing. 

The reason for the high percentage of covid positivity in Karachi is that most of the folks getting screened for covid already have the symptoms and are making sure they have covid. A significant portion of the population is also using at-home antigen tests and isolating without informing the healthcare workers. 

The Minister added further that, even though many people think vaccines provide little resistance to new variants, they do provide some protection. Hospital admissions for covid are as few as they are because over a hundred per cent of the population has been vaccinated. 

Out of the 51 million population of Sindh, 34.27 million are eligible for the covid vaccine (i.e. over 12 years of age). So far, 34.70 million of the target population have been vaccinated, and the booster dose is currently being administered. 

She said that people must be aware of the importance of the booster dose and should voluntarily come to the vaccination sites in the province. However, she added that those who cannot do so would be given the vaccine in their own home. 

For these situations, there must be a helpline where people who are self-isolating can let the health department know that they have COVID-19 and are isolated so that there is a record of all cases of infection. She also said that just because the symptoms of COVID-19 infections are mild does not mean that the after-effects of long COVID-19 should be ignored. After-effects of COVID-19 have not been extensively researched, and many experts believe that long COVID-19 can target the immune system, internal organs and neurological functions in otherwise healthy individuals. 

The meeting was informed that due to such few cases of COVID-19 hospitalisations, wards allotted for COVID-19 have been closing down in the province, and their equipment has been distributed to different hospitals in Sindh. However, some hospitals still have wards available so that the provinces’ health resources are always prepared for any resurge of cases. 

Dr Azra Pechuho stressed on the importance of masks, vaccination, booster shots and social distancing and asked those attending to ensure that all forms of media and public messaging are utilised to urge people to get the booster shots four months after their previous COVID-19 vaccination shot.