‘Punjab has no confirmed case of coronavirus'
Healthcare dept officials say only nine patients are quarantined and have no symptoms
PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
A spokesperson for the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (PPSHD) has said that 38 suspected cases of coronavirus have been screened at the public health facilities across Punjab and the province has no confirmed case of the virus.
The PPSHD spokesperson stated on Sunday that as per the data gathered at the coronavirus monitoring room established at the PPSHD, 38 patients were brought in from various districts, tehsils healthcare facilities and specialised healthcare hospitals across Punjab.
Out of the total, 29 patients had been cleared, while nine suspected patients were admitted in isolation wards to monitor the symptoms of coronavirus.
“However, no patients have shown any symptoms of virus infliction yet,” he emphasized.
Owing to the epidemic’s infamous risk, facemask prices have soared nearing five times in the provincial capital as medical stores continue to fleece citizens.
A market survey indicates that in the absence of any mechanism to regulate mask prices, most medical stores in the city are selling a disposable facemask at inflated prices.
A facemask that usually retailed Rs5 per piece a couple of weeks before any coronavirus cases emerged in Pakistan, is now being sold at around Rs25-30 per piece.
Similarly, N95 facemask prices have also jacked up nearly 600-700%. Earlier, the aforesaid facemask was being sold at Rs100 per piece but now it is being sold at around Rs700-800 per piece.
A medical store owner, Muhammad Aslam, told The Express Tribune that facemasks are in shortage which is why their prices are witnessing a drastic increase.
“Due to the all-time high-demand and limited production capacity, suppliers have stalled supply,” he explained.
“Earlier some local companies were producing disposable facemasks but the trade restrictions with China have resulted in the shortage of non-woven fabric used in the manufacturing of the facemasks.”
Another shopkeeper, Ilyas Khan, pointed out that facemasks have never been in high demand ever.
“Even in the smog season, hardly a few facemasks were sold but now in the panic buying spree, every citizen is trying to buy a facemask as a precaution against the coronavirus,” Khan stated.
Maria Khan, a housewife, said she had asked her son to buy a dozen masks for the family since the news of the global spread was in headlines.
“I was expecting a similar situation because whenever demand of any commodity swells its shortage is inevitable in the markets. In the holy month of Ramazan, retailers increase prices of food commodities and now traders have jacked up the facemasks’ prices. Besides governance, this is an ethical problem of Pakistani society,” she lamented.
Another citizen remarked that the government must ensure the availability of facemasks and other precautionary materials to avoid further spread of the disease.
A few days ago, the Punjab government was asked by the importers to request the federal government to remove duties and taxes on the import and sale of medical equipment, protective masks, gloves and gowns against the backdrop of coronavirus.
Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade Aslam Iqbal had assured the medical apparatus importers and other stakeholders that he will take up the issue with the federal government.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2020.
A spokesperson for the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (PPSHD) has said that 38 suspected cases of coronavirus have been screened at the public health facilities across Punjab and the province has no confirmed case of the virus.
The PPSHD spokesperson stated on Sunday that as per the data gathered at the coronavirus monitoring room established at the PPSHD, 38 patients were brought in from various districts, tehsils healthcare facilities and specialised healthcare hospitals across Punjab.
Out of the total, 29 patients had been cleared, while nine suspected patients were admitted in isolation wards to monitor the symptoms of coronavirus.
“However, no patients have shown any symptoms of virus infliction yet,” he emphasized.
Owing to the epidemic’s infamous risk, facemask prices have soared nearing five times in the provincial capital as medical stores continue to fleece citizens.
A market survey indicates that in the absence of any mechanism to regulate mask prices, most medical stores in the city are selling a disposable facemask at inflated prices.
A facemask that usually retailed Rs5 per piece a couple of weeks before any coronavirus cases emerged in Pakistan, is now being sold at around Rs25-30 per piece.
Similarly, N95 facemask prices have also jacked up nearly 600-700%. Earlier, the aforesaid facemask was being sold at Rs100 per piece but now it is being sold at around Rs700-800 per piece.
A medical store owner, Muhammad Aslam, told The Express Tribune that facemasks are in shortage which is why their prices are witnessing a drastic increase.
“Due to the all-time high-demand and limited production capacity, suppliers have stalled supply,” he explained.
“Earlier some local companies were producing disposable facemasks but the trade restrictions with China have resulted in the shortage of non-woven fabric used in the manufacturing of the facemasks.”
Another shopkeeper, Ilyas Khan, pointed out that facemasks have never been in high demand ever.
“Even in the smog season, hardly a few facemasks were sold but now in the panic buying spree, every citizen is trying to buy a facemask as a precaution against the coronavirus,” Khan stated.
Maria Khan, a housewife, said she had asked her son to buy a dozen masks for the family since the news of the global spread was in headlines.
“I was expecting a similar situation because whenever demand of any commodity swells its shortage is inevitable in the markets. In the holy month of Ramazan, retailers increase prices of food commodities and now traders have jacked up the facemasks’ prices. Besides governance, this is an ethical problem of Pakistani society,” she lamented.
Another citizen remarked that the government must ensure the availability of facemasks and other precautionary materials to avoid further spread of the disease.
A few days ago, the Punjab government was asked by the importers to request the federal government to remove duties and taxes on the import and sale of medical equipment, protective masks, gloves and gowns against the backdrop of coronavirus.
Punjab Minister for Industries and Trade Aslam Iqbal had assured the medical apparatus importers and other stakeholders that he will take up the issue with the federal government.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2020.