Over 600 pilgrims allowed to return home

DERA GHAZI KHAN: More than 600 pilgrims staying in quarantine centres in Dera Ghazi Khan were allowed to return to their homes on Thursday after their quarantine period was completed and there coronavirus test results came negative.

More than 800 pilgrims residing at the facility after they returned from Iran were tested and reports of 720 of them have been received.

DG Khan District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Mohammad Khalil Sikhani said 178 pilgrims have been tested positive. He said 20 pilgrims were shifted to Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital, Muzaffargarh whose condition is out of danger.

As many as 543 pilgrims who were tested negative were kept in isolation at the Danish School and Mir Chakar Khan University quarantine centres. The 14-day quarantine period for them ended on Thursday.

Out of the over 300 confirmed virus cases in Punjab, the highest number is among the pilgrims residing in the camps near Dera Ghazi Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2020.