Coronavirus outbreak: Pakistan sends mobile lab to Taftan for screening

Meeting reviews situation at bordering towns after COVID-19 upsurge in Iran

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani has directed the authorities concerned to provide facilities to the pilgrims who are quarantined at the Pak-Iran border.

He was chairing a meeting to review provincial government’s efforts against the novel coronavirus.

Balochistan Chief Secretary Capt (retd) Fazeel Asghar, Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority (DG PMDA) Imran Zarkoon, Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Quetta, Director General Health and secretaries were present in the meeting.

The meeting thoroughly reviewed the situation at the province’s bordering towns after the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran.

Secretary Health Mudassir Waheed Malik briefed the chief minister about the health facilities and measures taken at the Taftan border to prevent the virus from penetrating in the province and spreading.

“Pakistan House at the Taftan border is currently being used as a quarantine centre where more than 300 pilgrims who have recently returned from Iran are being screened,” Malik said.

He informed that at least 6,500 masks and medicines worth Rs2.5 million have been delivered to the health officials at the Pak-Iran border.

Pakistan has closed Pak-Iran entry points while Pak-Afghan border is temporarily closed for seven days to prevent the virus outbreak in Balochistan.

The secretary health further said that a mobile testing laboratory will also arrive at the Taftan border today while isolation wards are also being established in Taftan, Turbat and Quetta.

Meanwhile, DG PMDA Imran Zarkoon informed the meeting that the PDMA has provided 12 containers to provide living facilities to pilgrims at the Taftan border, adding that additional 20 containers have also been purchased in this regard.

“Food items and other facilities are being provided to pilgrims,” Zarkoon said.

Kamal, during the meeting, reviewed efforts being made to establish quarantine and isolation centers in Quetta and directed the C&W department, Commissioner Quetta and DG PDMA to assist the health department in providing facilities to the people stuck at the borders.

The provincial government also announced finalising all preparations to handle any emergency-like situation in Quetta. Kamal directed authorities to set all necessary arrangements at Fatima Jinnah and Sheikh Zahid hospitals’ isolation wards.

He further directed authorities to also complete a computerised data entry for all pilgrims and people who have returned from Iran.

“The Balochistan government has finalised a plan concerning the return of pilgrims of other provinces and they would be allowed to go back to their hometowns after the completion of the quarantine period,” Kamal said.

He said if any pilgrim tested positive of coronavirus, he or she would be kept in an isolation ward for an additional period.

The Balochistan government has also decided to establish Emergency and Relief Centre in order to ensure provision of quality healthcare and relief to the masses in the wake of the global outbreak.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2020.