K-P starts pool testing for coronavirus

The tests will allow K-P govt to screen a large number of individuals for the contagious virus

PESHAWAR: With the provincial government already increasing its testing capacity for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) to over 1,000 per day, the province received another boost on Thursday when the health minister said that its trials of pool testing - which can greatly enhance its testing capacity - were successful.

This will also help them meet their daily testing goals.

Addressing a joint news conference on Thursday, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Health Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra said they had successfully conducted 27 trials for pool testing which have yielded 100 per cent accurate results.

The tests, he said, will allow the government to screen a large number of individuals for the contagious virus in the province.

Flanked by the Adviser to CM on Information and Public Relations Ajmal Wazir, Jhagra said that so far, they have conducted 12,000 tests across the province. Moreover, he said that soon, they will be able to double their current capacity to conduct 1,000 Covid-19 tests per day as tests were being carried out in government and private health facilities simultaneously. The Khyber Medical University (KMU) alone, he said, can now conduct 900 tests daily.

Caring for people

Wazir said that so far, they have disbursed around Rs13 billion amongst 1.1million deserving families in the province.

He added that hoarders and profiteers will not be spared and strict action will be taken against them thanks to the recently promulgated ordinance. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2020.