800 travellers to be quarantined in Sukkur on return from Taftan

Sindh CM directs to provide all facilities, including food and medicines, until they complete 14 days of isolation

KARACHI: Around 800 travellers from Taftan are to arrive in Jacobabad on Sunday, Sindh's coronavirus taskforce was informed on Friday. Meanwhile, the first patient of coronavirus has recovered and will likely be discharged from the hospital on Saturday evening.

During a meeting of the taskforce at the CM House, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressed his satisfaction and congratulated the recovered patient and his family members on the recovery, while expressing the hope that the other patients would also recover. He further praised the doctors, the health department and other team members who have been working day and night to contain the threat.

It was pointed out that 800 travellers from Taftan would reach Jacobabad on Sunday. To this end, Shah directed the health department to make arrangements to keep these travellers in quarantine in Sukkur division.

Pakistan’s first novel coronavirus patient fully recovers

He added that they must be provided all facilities, including residence, food and medicines, until they completed 14 days of mandatory isolation.

Meanwhile, Shah was also briefed on the most recent patient, who had tested positive for the virus on Thursday. He was told that of the people the patient had made contact with, 15 had been traced and of these, five high-risk contacts were tested. Fortunately, all five of them tested negative for the virus.

Shah was also informed that 96 pilgrims had travelled with the patient. At this, he directed Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho to send the details of these travellers to the deputy commissioners, who would then trace and isolate these individuals where necessary. Meanwhile, the meeting was told that 13 suspected cases from districts including Qambar-Shahdadkot, Nawabshah, Jacobabad and Karachi had also tested negative.

The health department has so far tested 94 people for coronavirus, including those with a history of recently travelling to Iran and those who have been in close contact with travellers.