K-P govt fears rise in virus cases after Eid

CM’s adviser says people flouted SOPs during holidays

PESHAWAR: With people flouting the precautionary measures prescribed by the government amid a ‘simple celebrated’ Eidul Fitr, a top government official has warned that a high influx of patients could create problems for health workers.

This was stated on Tuesday by the Adviser to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Information Ajmal Wazir after a visit to the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) in the provincial capital.

The number of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in the province rose by 179 on Tuesday to 8,259. At least eight associated deaths were also reported, including four in Swat, two in Peshawar, one in Malakand, and one in Bajaur. Some 416 people have succumbed to the virus in the province so far.

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Wazir added that health centres in the province were not only tackling patients from across K-P, but also some patients from Afghanistan.

He added that doctors, paramedics and other medical staff are endangering their lives to take care of Covid-19 patients.

The adviser urged residents of K-P residents to follow the guidelines issued by the government and warned that the number of people with Covid-19 could rise if the public did not follow the guidelines. Reviewing facilities

Earlier, during his visit to HMC, Wazir was briefed by the centre’s Medical Director Dr Shehzad Akbar on the latest situation there with regards to the pandemic. Wazir also met with doctors, nurses and paramedics.

“Doctors, nurses and paramedics are fighting on the frontlines against Covid-19,” he said and expressed solidarity with them. He then inspected various wards of the hospital.

Despite limited resources, he said that K-P’s health system has done an exemplary job. Moreover, he said that the HMC became the first facility where doctors donated plasma.

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The adviser appealed to all those who have recovered from Covid-19 to donate their plasma to help other patients recover. Simple Eid

While talking to the media, Wazir said that Eid was celebrated with simplicity in the province this year out of respect for those who perished in the Karachi plane crash and others who have succumbed to Covid-19, including Professor Dr Javed.

"We united during the earthquakes, floods and also fought against terrorism, by the grace of God we will fight Covid-19 by following social distance and other precautions," he said. 

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