The country is on alert as two more persons have been tested positive for coronavirus - again in the federal capital and Karachi - taking the total to four. Speaking at a presser, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan here on Friday, confirmed two more positive cases of coronavirus in the federal capital and Karachi.
"The two patients earlier under treatment in Karachi and Islamabad are fast recovering and one of them will be discharged soon," said Dr Mirza.
He said that the country fell victim as it had already spread in four of our neighbouring countries.
Dr Mirza said that all four chief secretaries along with all other department officials concerned held a meeting to take stock of the situation and deal with the spread of the virus. The meeting reviewed the national action plan to cope with challenges in case of any further cases.
According to him, the meeting also reviewed the measures taken at the entry ports including airports and sea ports, as the people coming to the country will go through a proper medical checkup to avoid any more cases.
He said that government had also decided to increase the number of staff at airports and other entry points as well as the health facilities throughout the country as precautionary measures.
"Iran Taftan border is also being monitored as the pilgrims are returning home from Iran. The air traffic has already been suspended," Dr Mirza added. He said that both in capital and all the four provinces, some of the hospices will specifically be dedicated for the coronavirus patients in order to stop its spread.
"The health ministry will issue an advisory on Sunday (today) to control the artificial shortage of the masks. The people will be told that everybody doesn't need a mask," he added. Dr Mirza said that the ministry would also estimate how much personal protection equipment would be needed, adding the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had already been told to look into the matter as there should be no shortage of anything incase of any more such cases.
"A committee has also been specifically formed comprising representatives of health ministry, information ministry and the ISPR to create awareness among masses about the disease," he added.
Dr Mirza said that the school would not be shut as there was no need to panic at this stage as all the measures had been taken to deal with the epidemic, adding the school management had also been told to create awareness in this regard.
Meanwhile, Awan said that coronavirus was curable and there was no to worry about it.
She said that the prime minister had directed the authorities concerned to ensure all out efforts to stop the spread of the disease and give best treatment to the patients.
"We're not afraid of coronavirus as we're ready to fight against it. All the political leadership and the media should play their due role in creating awareness among the masses about the virus," she added.
Awan said that the action plan to deal with the virus would be placed before the Cabinet on Tuesday, and all the necessary measures had been taken and there would be no issue in dealing with the epidemic.
"We need to keep in mind that the recovery rate of the disease is over 98 percent, so there is no need to panic," she added.
"This virus is curable but taking care of cleanliness is of vital importance," Dr Awan said. About the reservation of the opposition in Senate on Friday, she said that the political parties must not do politics on this issue and rather play their due role. "We must get ready to deal with any epidemic as to date there is no need of such emergency," Awan said.
About the signing of the US-Afghan Taliban peace deal in Doha, she said that the vision and the narrative of Prime Minister Imran Khan for peace through dialogue instead of use of military might had proven true and successful before the world.
Meanwhile Karachi reporter adds: Spokesperson for the Sindh Health Department has confirmed new case of coronavirus in Karachi. However, she declined to share the identity the patient, saying that the patient is sixty-year-old and was returned from Iran on Feb 20, 2020.
She said that infected person is quarantined and his condition is stable and out of danger. "The medical examination of his family members is also being carried out", she added.
Presiding over third meeting of Coronavirus Taskforce, chief minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has directed the Sindh Health Department to screen their family members who had recently returned from Iran.
The meeting was told that family of members of the COVD-19 patient has also been kept in isolation. Sindh health ministry issues alert:
Meanwhile, following the earlier issued advisory of National Institute of Health - Pakistan, Field Epidemiology & Disease Surveillance Division, Islamabad, Sindh Health Ministry on Saturday in order to prevent possible spread of the coronavirus in the province alerted all the families with children in Quarantine at their home advising that they should not send their children to schools for 14 days.
The advisory issued from the health department was read as, "All the families with children in Quarantine at their home shall be advised not to send their children to schools for 14 days with effect from their return to Pakistan.
It is pertinent to mention here that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was also holding meetings of the ministries concerned on daily basis to review the measures being adopted to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the province.
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