PM Imran tests negative for coronavirus

Premier was tested after a recent meeting with Faisal Edhi who is diagnosed with Covid-19

Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested negative for the novel coronavirus, a day after it emerged that the premier was possibly exposed to the virus.

Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, the special assistant to the prime minister on information and broadcasting, has confirmed the test result, saying: “The test used was a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). I am happy to report that his test is NEGATIVE”

Prime Minister Imran Khan was tested today for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus strain that causes coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]). The test used was a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). I am happy to report that his test is NEGATIVE.

— Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan (@Dr_FirdousAwan) April 22, 2020

On Tuesday, the premier was tested after Edhi Foundation Chairman Faisal Edhi, who met him a few days ago, diagnosed positive for the respiratory illness – Covid-19.

A team of doctors from Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital had collected samples from the premier.

“As a responsible prime minister and a responsible citizen I am happy to announce that the prime minister has agreed to get tested [for coronavirus] on my advice,” Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital CEO Dr Faisal Sultan, who is also the premier’s personal physician and focal person on Covid-19, told reporters yesterday.

Faisal Edhi, son of the late renowned philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, had met the prime minister in Islamabad on April 15 to donate Rs10 million to the government’s coronavirus relief fund.

A picture shared by the state-run PTV’s twitter account showed Edhi handing over a cheque to the premier. Both Faisal and PM Imran, as well as the two other people seen in the picture, were not wearing protective masks.

https://twitter.com/Faisal_Edhi2/status/1250768722102378496

Faisal later told a TV news channel that he and two industrialists had spent around six to seven minutes with the premier.

In the last six days, Premier Imran has presided over many meetings and met important individuals including President Dr Arif Alvi and ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed.