Zubair Qureshi
With more countries ending complete lockdown and instead implementing partial lockdown, it has become quite important to ensure standard operating procedures (SOPs) for coronavirus and further tighten the health guidelines and scrutiny, etc at airports to prevent spread of coronavirus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Director Dr Palitha Mahipala accompanied the WHO Emergency team Pakistan visited Islamabad International Airport to conduct an onsite assessment of passenger screening at the Islamabad airport. The WHO team met Director Central Health Establishment (CHE), Dr Irfan Tahir at the airport.
The officials of the global health body emphasized public health safety demands screening measures and management of suspected cases at international travel entry points.
This, they said could prevent the reintroduction or importation of the deadly Coronavirus into Pakistan.
During the visit, common areas of intervention were identified for strengthening at the domestic and international terminals.
Dr Mahipala assured the Director CHE and airport authorities that WHO will continue its support to the Government of Pakistan to further strengthen the ongoing efforts by the government to prevent importation of Covid-19 at the point of entries.
Airport Manager, Nadeem Khan thanked the WR for visiting the airport and providing guidance for improving public health interventions at the airport. He also praised WHO’s persistent efforts for prevention and control of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, Islamabad on Sunday reported 461 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, marking the second straight day of more than 400 daily infections. A day earlier (Saturday) the city had reported 411 cases of coronavirus in one day.
It has also reported two more deaths from the virus. The capital’s tally of cases has jumped to 23,994 and fatalities to 255 two in the last 24 hours.
District Health officer (DHO) of Islamabad Dr Zaeem Zia in a tweet informed “Covid-19 outbreak gets worse. The number of sealed institutions in Islamabad crosses 100.”
Tally of the sealed institutions has now reached 120.” He has appealed to the residents to strictly follow health guidelines and observe coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
We have examined 461 cases and their contacts are being traced, said Dr Zaeem adding, the tests conducted were 7,420 and the positivity rate has progressed to 6.2%.
