The Express Tribune reported that the development emerged, days after publishing of media reports regarding spike in deaths in Karachi’s different hospitals. The reports claimed that these deaths had a link with the fatal coronavirus, which was ‘concealed’ by the government officials. However, there was no official confirmation from the authorities as there was no clear connection in the reports that the deaths had occurred due to the highly contagious disease.
The report claimed that according to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s (KMC) data, 681 dead bodies were brought in Mohammed Shah cemetery, 430 in Siddiqabad, 273 in Sakhi Hassan graveyard, 181 in the C-1 Area cemetery, and 76 in Yasinabad graveyard.
“In district Malir, 93 dead bodies were brought in Saudabad cemetery, 160 in Model Colony graveyard, five in Colony Gate cemetery, 15 in Hyder Shah cemetery, two in Masoom Shah graveyard, 49 in Molamadad Rabi Goth graveyard and 62 in Ismail Goth cemetery,” the report claimed.
According to data obtained from government hospitals in Karachi, 10,791 patients were brought to the emergency during the first three months of 2020. 121 of those were dead on arrival while the fatality rate was 1.12%.
The unavailability of mass coronavirus testing strengthens the claims that the deaths were caused due to the fatal pandemic.