No coronavirus cases reported in Pakistan: Dr Zafar Mirza

Says airports are ensuring proper screening of passengers travelling from other countries

State Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza assured on Wednesday that there were no reported cases of coronavirus in Pakistan.

Chairing a meeting of Coronavirus Emergency Core Group in Islamabad, the health minister said the National Institution for Health (NIH) received 89 samples, which have tested to be negative - confirming that there are no coronavirus cases in the country.

He further maintained that a National Action Plan (NAP) is being fully implemented to keep the country safe from the coronavirus, and the core group is constantly monitoring the situation.

Dr Mirza also said separate rooms have been allocated in 18 hospitals nationwide.

He also said a strong mechanism has been put in place at all airports to ensure proper screening of passengers travelling from other parts of the world, adding that 400,000 people have been screened so far.

Federal secretary health executive director NIH, Pakistan Army representatives and other experts were present during the meeting.

China virus death toll surges past 2,000: govt

Coronavirus cases in China

The death toll from China’s new coronavirus epidemic jumped past 2,000 on Wednesday after 136 more people died, with the number of new cases falling for a second straight day, according to the National Health Commission.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases in mainland China to 74,185.

The death toll rose to 2,004 with most of the deaths in central Hubei province, where the virus first emerged in December before spiraling into a nationwide epidemic.

In its daily update, the National Health Commission reported 1,749 new cases of people infected with the virus nationwide, the lowest number of new cases this month.