Armed forces geared to meet any eventuality arising from coronavirus outbreak: ISPR
COVID-19 testing labs established at all major military hospitals across the country, says ISPR
Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. PHOTO: ISPR/FILE
The military's wing on Tuesday said the armed forces of the country are geared to meet any eventuality arising from the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
A statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) added that "all medical facilities of the armed forces are operationalised" and COVID-19 testing labs have established at all major military hospitals of the country.
A central testing lab has also been established at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP).
The ISPR added that Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has "directed all commanders to take maximum necessary measures to assist civil administration for safety and well being of the people of Pakistan".
"Armed Forces of Pakistan are fully involved in assisting the government and provincial administrations to tackle the situation since the outbreak and duly vigilant of the developing situation post-COVID-19," further said ISPR.
Provincial authorities on Tuesday confirmed 10 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Sindh and Punjab, pushing the country’s tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 194.
Overall, Sindh has 155 confirmed cases while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 15, Balochistan has 10, Islamabad four, Gilgit-Baltistan three, Punjab 7 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir has reported none till now.
On the other hand, the situational report provided by the National Institute of Health states the country’s tally at 187 with 150 confirmed cases in Sindh, 15 in K-P, 14 in Balochistan, four in Islamabad, three in G-B and one in Punjab.
There were a total of 499 COVID-19 tests performed across the country during the last 24 hours.
Four patients have been discharged after recovering – one in Islamabad and three in Sindh. However, the Sindh Health Department puts the tally at two.
According to NIH, a total of 995,821 travellers have been screened at entry points so far out of which 20,187 travelers were checked in the 24 hours.
The total number of suspected patients in the country stands at 533, with around 100 being added to the number during the last 24 hours.
Action plan
On March 13, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) to cobble a unified approach to contain the outbreak.
The huddle was attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed provincial chief ministers, top advisors and cabinet members.
It was decided to close borders with Iran and Afghanistan, allow only three airports – Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore – to operate international flights in limited numbers while other airports will see domestic flights, and ban public gatherings.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been tasked to coordinate with provincial governments and lead the fight against novel coronavirus. It was also decided to close all educational institutions until April 5.
The Pakistan Day parade on March 23 has also been cancelled.
The Sindh government has banned public gatherings, shut down educational institutions, postponed religious celebrations and closed shrines, marriage halls, cinemas, gyms, social clubs etc. Punjab government is said to have made a similar decision.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the education institutions have been closed till April 5 and suspended wedding activities around the province.
Balochistan has also limited activities and closed educational institutions till the end of March.
A statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) added that "all medical facilities of the armed forces are operationalised" and COVID-19 testing labs have established at all major military hospitals of the country.
A central testing lab has also been established at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP).
The ISPR added that Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has "directed all commanders to take maximum necessary measures to assist civil administration for safety and well being of the people of Pakistan".
"Armed Forces of Pakistan are fully involved in assisting the government and provincial administrations to tackle the situation since the outbreak and duly vigilant of the developing situation post-COVID-19," further said ISPR.
Provincial authorities on Tuesday confirmed 10 new cases of the novel coronavirus in Sindh and Punjab, pushing the country’s tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 194.
Overall, Sindh has 155 confirmed cases while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 15, Balochistan has 10, Islamabad four, Gilgit-Baltistan three, Punjab 7 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir has reported none till now.
On the other hand, the situational report provided by the National Institute of Health states the country’s tally at 187 with 150 confirmed cases in Sindh, 15 in K-P, 14 in Balochistan, four in Islamabad, three in G-B and one in Punjab.
There were a total of 499 COVID-19 tests performed across the country during the last 24 hours.
Four patients have been discharged after recovering – one in Islamabad and three in Sindh. However, the Sindh Health Department puts the tally at two.
According to NIH, a total of 995,821 travellers have been screened at entry points so far out of which 20,187 travelers were checked in the 24 hours.
The total number of suspected patients in the country stands at 533, with around 100 being added to the number during the last 24 hours.
Action plan
On March 13, Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) to cobble a unified approach to contain the outbreak.
The huddle was attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed provincial chief ministers, top advisors and cabinet members.
It was decided to close borders with Iran and Afghanistan, allow only three airports – Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore – to operate international flights in limited numbers while other airports will see domestic flights, and ban public gatherings.
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has been tasked to coordinate with provincial governments and lead the fight against novel coronavirus. It was also decided to close all educational institutions until April 5.
The Pakistan Day parade on March 23 has also been cancelled.
The Sindh government has banned public gatherings, shut down educational institutions, postponed religious celebrations and closed shrines, marriage halls, cinemas, gyms, social clubs etc. Punjab government is said to have made a similar decision.
In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the education institutions have been closed till April 5 and suspended wedding activities around the province.
Balochistan has also limited activities and closed educational institutions till the end of March.