Daily Times

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Wednesday confirmed reporting of four coronavirus cases among Pakistanis in China.

“All of them are students and all of them are in good state of health and are being taken care very well. However, until now there is no reported case in Pakistan,” Dr Zafar Mirza told a press conference. He said there is a widespread concern over novel coronavirus disease and in this regard, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has convened two emergency meetings to review the situation in China and elsewhere. He said that WHO has also released certain instructions and advises to its member states regarding the disease. “Pakistan is strictly following these instructions which means we have to deal with the possibility of spread of this disease as a national emergency and all those measures must be taken as the national emergency is required,” he said.

He said that the government has established national emergency operation centre and activated national taskforce on international health regulations besides creating national coronavirus emergency core committee in which all ministries and sectors are represented. He said that SOPs have been developed to manage the inflow of international passengers and to examine some signs and symptoms in order to put those suspected people under observation besides isolating them in designated healthcare facilities and screening at the ports of entry.

He said the government has reinforced its facilities for screening at the ports of entry. “We are on a high alert and taken measures we needed to have taken as a responsible government as there are clear instructions from the prime minister in this regard,” he said, adding that only three percent fatality rate has been reported from the disease whereas many patients are gradually recovering at the hospitals. He said that one suspected case has been admitted in isolation in Multan whose clinical condition is stable and he does not seem to be a case of coronavirus and his relevant samples have been taken.

He said that emergency operation cell at the Federal Health Ministry is monitoring the situation round the clock. “Let me assure the people that the government is closely monitoring the situation and all necessary measures are being taken to screen all travellers from China and providing hospital care where required,” he said.

He said thermo scanners and thermo guns have been provided to the well-trained health staff at airports in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to screen all the passengers.

He asked media for avoiding irresponsible reporting based on assumptions and rumours. He said that irresponsible reporting about outbreak of disease in the country can add to the miseries of the masses. “We expect responsible reporting by media. Please do not add to nation’s anxiety about coronavirus and meticulously check facts before reporting,” he said.

He said there is absolutely no cause for panic or alarm. People need to take simple precautions for prevention against common flu like covering the nose and mouth while coughing and sneezing, frequent hand washing for 20 seconds with soap, avoiding close contact with sick people, animals, touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, he said.