While the screening of Corona suspects is underway, the total number of COVID-19 patients has reportedly risen to 104 across the province. As many as 10 affected patients are under treatment at Lahore's Mayo Hospital, one each in Services and Jinnah Hospitals, said sources. The individual who has been tested positive in Rawalpindi had returned from Dubai a few days ago, the sources said.
"A convoy of pilgrims, comprising 33 buses and 1,270 passengers, has already reached the quarantine center in Multan from Taftan. Screening of all pilgrims is completed and no suspected case has been reported. An elderly woman, suffering from cholera, with cough and normal body temperature has been shifted to the Nishtar Hospital," the sources added.
There are over 80 ventilators in Mayo Hospital while a separate isolation ward is being set up in Eye Ward of the hospital, CEO Mayo Hospital Prof Asad Aslam said. He said the positive patients of Corona in Mayo Hospital are being extended health cover in isolation wards.
Inaugurating 'Corona Telemedicine Helpline Center' at Punjab University and Corona Rescue Helpline at Rescue-1122 Headquarter, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar said, "We have to learn a lesson from Britain, Italy and France because hundreds of deaths are being occurred in the countries where citizens did not adhere to safety measures against Coronavirus."
DG Rescue Dr Rizwan Naseer, Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Niaz Akhtar and others were also present on this occasion.
Briefing the Governor, the DG Rescue said that Rescue-1122 is not only actively guiding all those people contacting the service through phone callers but also coordinating with rescue teams of respective districts, besides providing them medical aid where necessary.
Talking to media, Governor Sarwar said that four telemedicine helpline centers have so far been set up in Lahore and we are also establishing 10 centers in Azad Kashmir. "People should avoid visiting markets, bazaars and crowded places and stay at home because prevention from Coronavirus is possible by adopting each and every safety step in this regard," he said.
It may be noted that the Coronavirus cases in Pakistan have surged to 543 as 267 patients have been tested positive for the epidemic in Sindh, 104 in Balochistan, 104 in Punjab, 27 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 30 in Gilgit-Baltistan, ten in Islamabad and one Azad Kashmir.
Talking about this, Principal PGMI Professor Dr Al-freed Zafar urged the public to avoid unnecessary exit from home in order to limit this dangerous virus. Prof Al-freed said that round-the-clock doctors at Lahore General Hospital's Corona Helpline number 042-99268808-9 as well as Skype could be available.