Area of Karachi coronavirus patient being screened as precautionary measures

Six-member team will only deal with those patients who have similar symptoms of the virus, says health official

KARACHI: A day after the first coronavirus case emerged from Karachi, a six-member team of the Sindh Health Department on Thursday reached the same neighbourhood of the metropolis to carry out medical screening of residents for precautionary measures.

Amid a fear of contracting the highly contagious disease, the team led by District Health Officer Dr Ashfaq Ahmed  including Dr Khalilullah, Dr Adnan, Dr Faizan and others have been tasked with conducting the medical screening of all the people living in the area.

“The team will only deal with those patients who have similar symptoms of the virus,” said Atif Vighio, the spokesperson for Sindh Health Department.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, he said that the health department wanted to provide facilities at the door step of those who are worried due to the possible spread of the disease.



“The doctors will continue to work in the area until screening of all suspected patients completed," he added.

State Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza late Wednesday confirmed that the two cases of deadly disease were reported in Pakistan.

One of the patient, Y* recently flew in to Karachi along with his family from Iran. He and his family have been placed in quarantine and the health department is in the process of examining all the passengers he has travelled with.

“Y* went to Iran in a group of 28 pilgrims. He has been immediately admitted to a private hospital, where he is undergoing various tests,” the provincial health minister told The Express Tribune. Medics at the hospital said Y*’s condition is improving.