Staff Reporter
Karachi
Pakistan’s sixth coronavirus case was reported in Karachi on Thursday. The patient was identified as a 69-year-old male residing in the city’s District East.
Taking notice of the case, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed officials to trace and test all those who have been in contact with the patient.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health and Reforms, Zafar Mirza on Thursday said that overall 700,000 passengers have so far been screened across the country.
Chairing a meeting of the emergency core group here Thursday, he said that every possible step is being taken by the incumbent govt to cope with coronavirus threat.
Zafar Mirza said the federal and provincial governments and other institutions are fully ready to meet the challenge and protect the people from this virus.
Screening is being ensured at all airports and the ground routes, while separate rooms are being allocated in the hospitals, added Mirza.
The PM’s aide said only five coronavirus cases have so far been reported in the country.
Earlier on Wednesday, Dr Zafar Mirza aid that all five patients diagnosed with novel coronavirus have been recovering rapidly.
Addressing a conference in Rawalpindi, he said the government’s health reforms agenda is aimed at achieving the universal health coverage, adding that the primary healthcare services are being strengthened to realize this vision.
“Overall 200 cases of suspected coronavirus were tested out of which only five diagnosed with COVID-19,” said Zafar. The PM’s aide further said that the incumbent govt was taking all necessary to counter the spread of coronavirus in the country.
Zafar Mirza said that the health department was not suggesting Islamabad administration to close schools in the federal capital.
Islamabad and Tehran have agreed to work together to limit the coronavirus outbreak after nearly 3,000 people, including senior government functionaries, were confirmed to have contracted the virus in Iran.
The agreement over a joint response was reached during a telephonic conversation between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Iranian counterpart, Jawad Zarif, on Thursday.
Qureshi told Zarif that Pakistan extends its full support to Iran in coping with the virus. “Pakistan regrets the loss of precious lives in Iran due to the epidemic,” he conveyed to his counterpart. More than 90 people have died in Iran from the epidemic.
Pakistan on Tuesday confirmed its fifth case of the coronavirus. All of the patients had previously traveled to Iran. According to BBC, cases linked to Iran have also been reported by Afghanistan, Canada, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The number of people quarantined at Pakistan House in Taftan has overwhelmed the space’s capacity and authorities are now shifting travelers to another place.
Quoting Customs officials, the TV channel reported that more than 3,000 people are currently kept at two quarantine centers in Taftan. Pakistan House at Taftan is filled to capacity, with over 2,500 people being kept there after screening at the border crossing.
Meanwhile, authorities have stepped up efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Screening machines have been installed and quarantine centers established at border outposts where pilgrims coming from Iran are kept before being allowed to enter in the country.
