Sindh sets up rapid response team to contain novel coronavirus

Team will work round the clock and remain in close contact with airport authorities, says notification

Amid the fear of possible spread of China-originated novel coronavirus, the Sindh government has formed a rapid response medical team in compliance with the directions of Ministry of National Health Services.

Last month, the federal health ministry had directed the authorities concerned to remain alert following the possible spread of 'contagious' virus from China and established an emergency operation cell to monitor the situation.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza said that the directorate of the health ministry dealing with airport and port health services had been asked to maintain strict vigilance at the points of entry and check travellers coming in from the affected areas.

201/ At Islamabad airport this morning - received passengers from China along with HE Chinese Ambassador in 🇵🇰 CZ6007 brought 69 passengers including 57 Pakistanis and 12 Chinese. We supervised implementation of “Airport SOPs” & I interviewed passengers. pic.twitter.com/22GleZfmUa

— Zafar Mirza (@zfrmrza) February 3, 2020

According to a notification issued by the Sindh health department on Monday, a team which has been constituted with “immediate effect” will be comprising of doctors, paramedical staff and well-equipped ambulance.



Director health services of Karachi division will head the team, the official statement said.



As per the directives, the team will work round the clock and maintain close contact with the airport authorities to deal with any emergency situation.

The team would be responsible for transporting the suspected coronavirus passenger to isolated wards in designated hospitals and focal points, the communique read.

Moreover, the team will also deploy medical staff at the Karachi airport.



The development comes as a passenger flight carrying 57 stranded Pakistanis from virus-hit China arrived at the Islamabad International Airport earlier in day after flight operations between the two  neighbouring countries have been resumed after three days.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared coronavirus as a global health emergency as it has killed more than 360 people and infected over 14,000 – mostly in China.