QUETTA: As many as 550 positive cases of Covid-19 have been reported from educational institutions of Balochistan since Sept 15, according to a spokesperson for the Corona Cell in the province.

Dr Waseem Baig said on Saturday that the health department conducted 6,530 tests for coronavirus in schools, colleges and universities of the province during this period. He said five more cases were also reported the other day.

He said the provincial government had decided to conduct tests in all government-run schools, colleges and universities after they reopened recently. It had closed over a dozen schools and colleges after the coronavirus cases were found.

Balochistan has so far reported 15,323 cases of Covid-19. Most of these cases were reported from Quetta.

The provincial government is trying to increase its testing capacity and has decided to establish laboratories at the divisional level to reach maximum number of patients.

Sources in the health department said that 14,233 patients had recovered from coronavirus in Balochistan. Most of the patients recovered from the virus have stayed in isolation at their homes.

Dr Baig said the virus had killed 146 people in the province. He said mostly aged people had become victim of the deadly virus in the province.

“The recovery rate in Balochistan is high as compared to other provinces,” Dr Baig said. The number of patients continued to increase in the province recently as compared to the past, he added.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2020