National Action Plan against coronavirus ready: Mirza

SAPM on health says quarantine facility established at Hajj Complex in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: A National Action Plan (NAP) to ensure preparedness and giving a response against Novel Coronavirus is being implemented in coordination with all stakeholders and all required steps are being taken to protect people from this disease, said Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Thursday, adding that Pakistani students suspected of suffering from the virus in Wuhan have been discharged.

“There is, so far, no case of the disease in Pakistan,” he said while chairing the Emergency Core Group Meeting for Novel Coronavirus Preparedness and Response.

He further said that the four Pakistani students in China, who were infected by the virus, have fully recovered and have been discharged from the hospital.

The SAPM told the meeting that strict vigilance was being maintained at the airports with a screening of incoming travellers and their follow-up by dedicated public health teams and airport health authorities.

The isolation ward facilities at the designated hospitals and quarantine arrangements were essential to meet any eventuality, he said, adding, these measures have been taken under the action plan and are in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and per international best practices.

Isolation wards have been established in major hospitals across the country whereas a quarantine facility has been established at Hajj Complex in Rawalpindi.

All necessary arrangements at the quarantine facility were in place with the support of Ministry of Religious Affairs and NDMA, the SAPM said and added: “I would like to express special gratitude to Ministry of Religious Affairs and NDMA for completing all arrangements at the facility in the shortest possible time.”

He said that all authorities concerned were working round the clock and maintaining a high level of vigilance to counter the public health challenge posed by novel coronavirus pandemic, said Mirza. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2020.