Stop coronavirus, pneumonia patients from leaving airport: CM Sindh

Orders ‘foolproof’ arrangements for screening passengers

KARACHI: Keeping in view the recent spike in coronavirus cases in Karachi, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed the relevant officials on Tuesday to ensure that no one showing symptoms of pneumonia or COVID-19 was allowed out of the airport.

Addressing a taskforce meeting, the CM said, "I don't want any passenger showing symptoms of pneumonia or COVID-19 to be let out of the airport and allowed contact with others."

He said that around 4,000 passengers were landing in Karachi every day, adding that measures for their screening should be "foolproof." The CM directed the provincial chief secretary to correspond with the federal government on the matter and seek assistance for making quarantine arrangements for coronavirus suspects at the airport.

The CM informed the meeting that of the 15 coronavirus cases detected in Sindh so far, all were all had contracted the virus from outside the country.

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"It means that we need to be more careful while screening passengers, especially those coming from Iran, Afghanistan, Italy and other countries where the virus is widespread, at the airport, and those testing positive must be quarantined [at the airport]," the CM stressed.

Briefing the CM on the matter, the chief secretary said that at present 32 officials of the health department were deployed at the airport but the number would be doubled for more accurate screening.

It was also decided during the meeting that desks would be set up at immigration counters at Karachi airport and health department officials, doctors and paramedical staff would receive special training by the representatives of the World Health Organisation, on dealing with and treating coronavirus patients.

Besides, the meeting was told that all of the 14 patients under treatment for COVID-19 were in stable condition and recovering well.

So far, the Sindh Health Department has conducted 162 tests, of which 15 were diagnosed with coronavirus and result for two are pending.

The first person who tested positive for the virus had completed recovered and sent home, while the second person diagnosed with the infection too has been recovering and had tested negative for a test conducted on Tuesday. Though, he will be tested again today (Wednesday).

It was also pointed out at the meeting that 167 pilgrims, returning from Iran, were quarantined at their homes and the quarantine period for 25 of them would end on March 11. Of the remaining, the period will end on March 12 for 34 persons and on March 13 for 66 persons.

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Later, on the instructions of the CM, representatives of private officials shared data of 691 patients, suspected of having contracted the virus, but none of them tested positive.

PSL

At the meeting, the CM also instructed that Pakistan Super League matches are to be held March 12 onwards, as per the schedule.

In this regard, the CM directed the chief secretary and Sindh IGP to make necessary arrangements for PSL matches in addition to "issuing a [health] advisory for the spectators."

The chief minister also directed Sindh Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Shah and Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani to hold a meeting with the officials of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and discuss all the precautionary measures.

He urged them to install hand wash and sanitiser containers at the stadium and issue advice for the people, returning from Iran, to not to visit stadium.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2020.