KARACHI: Mayor Karachi Wasim Akhtar on Wednesday said that gorkans (gravediggers) of the all graveyards under administrative control of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation had been provided precautionary kits in the wake of novel coronavirus.

He said this while handing over kits to in charge of graveyards Pervaiz Iqbal. The mayor said that the decision to keep graveyards closed even on Shab-i-Barat was hard but it was taken for safety of the people. `It is better for the people to remain in homes and perform prayers from there,` he added.

Mr Akhtar said the main purpose of graveyards` closure was to prevent gatherings and establishment of different stalls outside the cemeteries.

He directed the in charge of graveyards to continue with normal funerals and cooperate with the citizens. `Only close relatives of the deceased are allowed to attend funerals, that`s why people in large numbers are requested not to attend,` he said.

The mayor also hailed graveyards` managements for cooperatingin this regard.

He was of the view that the current situation could be controlled soon if the people continued their support to the government. `The Karachiites should not lose hope as it is testing time by Allah Almighty. I am sure normalcy would be restored soon,` he said.

He once again asked citizens to avoid unnecessarily going out to ensure safety of them and their family members.

100-bed centre at L andhi The KMC on Wednesday established 100-bed cardiac emergency centre at Landhi No. 2 to look after the patients ef fected by Covid-19. Mayor Akhtar inaugurated the centre having filter clinic and other facilities that would be functional 24/7.

MPA Hashim Raza, Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman and other senior officials were present.

The mayor also visited isolation ward and reviewed measures there. He stated that 12 doctors and 40 paramedics would be performing duties at the hospital. `This hospital will cater to the need of hundreds of thousands of people of Landhi, Korangi, Shah Faisal Colony, Ibrahim Haidery, Future Colony and adjacent areas,` he added.

Mr Akhtar said that the municipal administration was trying to establish more filter clinics so that the coronavirus could be diagnosed at early stages. `Every person having fever, flu and cough is not a coronavirus patient; this could be seasonal or bacterial infection,` he added.

The mayor directed that SOPs should be devised for the patients coming to filter clinics, and the doctors should ensure their safety first. He also handed over precautionary kits for doctors and paramedics to the hospital management.

The mayor asked private sector to come forward and play their role. `The hospital under administrative control of the KMC has total 89 ventilators of which 69 are functional.

Twenty out of order ventilators would be fixed and provided for patients soon,` he added.

Mr Akhtar said that the municipal government was taking all-out measures to provide its hospitals all possible f acilities to tackle coronavirus. `We are trying to match the services being provided in big hospitals including Aga Khan Hospital and Indus Hospital. We are present amongst the citizens and will definitely give them all possible facilities, he concluded.