Sindh seeks FIA action against fake virus reports

SAPM on health dispels any fear of COVID-19 epidemic in country

RAWALPINDI: The government of Sindh has asked the Federal Ministry of Interior to crack down against the people spreading fake news through social media forums about spread of novel coronavirus cases in the province

In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Interior, the Sindh government on Wednesday said only two cases of the virus – also called COVID-19 – had been reported in Sindh but some elements were spreading rumours about phenomenal increase in the number of cases using social media portals.

The letter, dated March 4, said fabricated notifications were also being circulated regarding announcement of holidays for government employees and further extension of holidays announced for educational institutions.

The report said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has taken serious notice of the fake reports, which are spreading panic among people and directed authorities to take strict action against such miscreants.

Coronavirus outbreak: Cabinet refuses to declare health emergency in Pakistan

“It is [therefore] requested that the FIA [Federal Investigation Agency] Cybercrime be directed to take action against the person responsible for spreading this disinformation about coronavirus on social media,” it said.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza on Wednesday also rubbished claims that the government was concealing the number of coronavirus cases because of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches.

Mirza, the de facto health minister of the country, stressed that there were only five coronavirus patients in the country and said that “everyone with flu should not assume that they have the [corona]virus”.

The fifth edition of the PSL kicked off on February 20 and is scheduled to continue till March 22 in many cities. Speaking to the media at the Rawalpindi Medical University, Mirza said any rumours of a large number of patients were “200 per cent untrue”.

Coronavirus outbreak: Cabinet refuses to declare health emergency in Pakistan

Dr Mirza said that there was no fear of COVID-19 epidemic in Pakistan. “The coronavirus situation is under control and the health ministry is on high alert to cope with any situation,” he said.

“The federal and provincial governments are working together. Punjab and Islamabad are clear of the virus -- hence, schools in these areas will not be closed.”

Health emergency

Mirza’s remarks came a day after the federal cabinet rejected the health ministry’s proposal to declare a health emergency in the country. Instead the ministers called for better screening of the travellers at the entry points of the country and preparation of database.

Mirza on Tuesday confirmed a fifth case of coronavirus in Pakistan, which like the four others also traced back to Iran. According to reports, two patients were in Karachi hospitals and the three others were in Islamabad’s hospital.

With five cases country-wide, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government declared health emergency in the province on Wednesday. A notification by the K-P Health Department said that since the COVID-19 has been confirmed in Pakistan, it threatens to spread to the north-western province as well.

“Extensive measures are required to be set in place for the preparedness, prevention, control and response to the spread of the disease throughout the province due to its high rate of spread and non-availability of treatment at the moment which may lead to significant casualties,” it said.

At the media talk on Wednesday, Mirza said that the provincial governments were independent and that the Centre had no objection to their decisions to close schools. The result of the coordinated efforts — both at the federal and provincial levels — would have a positive result,” he added.

Mirza restated that the number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan remained at five, adding that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the issue were working well and needed to be further strengthened.

“Our simple policy is working so far, [it] is working very well and it needs to be strengthened,” he said, adding however, “we need to prepare ourselves for a worst-case scenario but we should hope for the best.”

He urged masses to keep an eye on those with a recent travel history to China and Iran and informed on toll-free number 1166 in case of any dilemma. He said that at this stage the federal government did not recommend the closure of schools.

Responding to a question about the Pakistani students who are in China, particularly in Wuhan – epicentre of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Mirza said a total of 2,000 Pakistani students were in China, out of which 620 were in Wuhan

He assured that the government was in constant touch with these students and was doing whatever it could for their wellbeing in coordination with the Chinese government. They had not been brought back because Pakistan respected the regulations of the Chinese government, he added.

Mirza said that China had imposed the same restrictions on the Pakistani students as they had for their own people. He added that there were no restrictions on those who were outside China’s Hubei province.

Replying to another question about dengue, he said that a comprehensive strategy had been evolved on the recommendation of dengue experts and health professionals to eradicate it completely in 2020.