Islamabad, Apr 22 (IANS): Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday expressed concern over the increasing number of confirmed coronavirus cases surfacing in Karachi.

In a video statement, Shah said the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of the virus should be strengthened, geo news reported.

"Sindh has recorded the highest daily increase in number of confirmed cases today. The total number of cases in the country has crossed 10,000 already. Most of the cases in Sindh are from Karachi. This is very concerning," Shah said in his statement.

"320 new cases emerged in Sindh today and take the total number of cases in the province to 3,373. Local transmission of virus cases is increasing and all of us need to keep our eyes open to this ominous development," he said in his address to the citizens.

"Three more patients have also died of the virus, bringing the total number of virus deaths in the province to 69," he said, before presenting the breakdown of the virus cases in localities in Sindh and across the province.

Shah on Tuesday also expressed concern over the increase in the number of local transmissions of coronavirus cases in Larkana district. While attending a meeting on the coronavirus situation in Larkana, chaired by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari through video link, the Sindh chief minister said the virus death toll ratio had also increased.

He directed the divisional and deputy commissioners of Larkana to take concrete measures to control the number of positive cases. Murad Ali Shah said in the next week, Covid-19 testing labs would be set up to carry out tests in Sindh, saying his government had not stopped the people from performing prayers at mosques.

Shah said, however, that people had been requested to follow the virus-related SOPs. He said the provincial government did not receive any financial assistance from any institution, nor has it asked the federal government to help meet the challenge of the Covid-19 outbreak.