Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz on Monday said that at least two new machines will be installed at the Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL) to enhance its testing capacity from 300 tests a day to 700.
While visiting PHRL facilities at the Khyber Medical University (KMU) on Monday, Dr Niaz said that the new machines are expected to arrive at the lab in the next three days.
To further enhance its capabilities, the chief secretary said that they are also increasing staff at PHRL so that the facility can operate round the clock in shifts.
To address financial bottlenecks, Dr Niaz that Rs100 million has been released for KMU to enhance testing capacity, hiring additional staff and logistics.
The chief secretary reviewed quarantine arrangements for laboratory staff apart from performance and biosafety measures of PHRL.
“Coronavirus is a national challenge and we have to contribute our part honestly and professionally to cope with the outbreak,” Dr Niaz said.
He further directed KMU’s public health team to cooperate with the health department in diagnosing and rehabilitating coronavirus victims from Manga Union Council of Mardan.
K-P confirms 7 new cases
The provincial health department on Monday confirmed seven new coronavirus cases in the province, taking the total tally of the province to 38.
In a statement on the microblogging network Twitter, the K-P Health Department said that most of the cases were confirmed amongst pilgrims who have arrived in DI Khan.
Meanwhile, at least 130 suspected COVID-19 patients were cleared of the virus while results for the rest are awaited.
KTH’s OPD shuts down
Given the COVID-19 outbreak, the management of Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) has shut down the outpatient department (OPD) of the health care facility, including elective services and institutional practices, until further orders.
The entry of visitors has also been banned while patients have been restricted to one attendant only.
A circular issued by KTH management on Monday read that the influx of patients in the OPD can be a source of transmission for COVID-19.
However, the emergency department will remain open and patients will be provided services from on-call consultants
Those visiting the hospital will have to undergo screening, including at the hospital’s main gate and the entrance to the emergency block.
Public transport suspended
K-P Health Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra on Monday said that all mass public transport in the province has been suspended.
“Those going out are putting themselves and others [at risk] of getting infected,” he said.
The minister added that the current week is off in the province, hence there is no need for anyone to leave their homes.
Lockdown situation
District administrations and the police ensured that orders for a partial lockdown in the province are followed and acted against those who had flouted the orders.
The Peshawar police stopped at least three wedding functions in the provincial capital which were underway despite the ban on public gatherings and arrested the grooms. The caterers were also booked for offering their services for such events.
Matani Assistant Commissioner (AC) Rizwana Dar said that a gathering of hundreds of people had been organised despite the restrictions imposed by the government.
She added that all wedding functions booked for during the lockdown must be postponed in the public interest.
Meanwhile, some 88 shopkeepers were arrested for the lockdown ordered by the district administration. The suspects were running restaurants, snooker clubs, gyms and other establishments.
Bakeries, grocery, dairy and other shops selling essential items including vegetables and fruits remained opened while markets and different bazaars were closed across the province. Shops of motor mechanics and tyre shops also stayed open.
Adviser to K-P Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir said that measures such as partial lockdown are being taken for the safety of the public.
In a video message released on Monday, the adviser contended that China had managed to contain the spread of the virus by adopting similar prevention methods.
Two suspected cases in Balakot
At least two suspected cases of the coronavirus have surfaced in Balakot tehsil of Mansehra district.
Balakot Assistant Commissioner Nawab Sameer Laghari in a statement said that a resident of Khairabad area had recently returned from Iran. The suspected patient and his driver have been shifted to a quarantine centre as a precautionary measure while their swab samples have been sent for tests.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2020.
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