Govt. scrambles to contain coronavirus outbreak, new cases emerge

KARACHI: Two more coronavirus cases have surfaced in Pakistan – one from Karachi and the other from the federal area, as noted by top health officials.

With two new cases, the disease patients’ toll in the country has reached four in a week, creating panic in Karachi and Islamabad.

One coronavirus-hit patient has been admitted to a public sector hospital in Karachi, confirmed Media Coordinator to the Health Minister, Meeran Yousuf. The patient had a recent history of travel to Iran where he acquired the virus, he said.

The patient has been kept at the Isolation Ward of the hospital and is under treatment, the official said. All his recent contacts have also been quarantined and are being monitored. The 65-year-old victim is a resident of the Kharadar area of Karachi and arrived from Iran a few days back. The family members of the elderly man were also quarantined.

Recently, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, also confirmed two new cases of coronavirus in Pakistan – one in Karachi and the other in a federal area. These patients are being handled according to clinical protocols, he said.

Dozens of people were still under observation in both public and private sector hospitals of the Sindh province where the patients’ samples are also being taken to determine their status. Panic rules Karachi due to the disease outbreak.

Sources at Sindh Health Department stated that the Sindh government had prepared a list of 1500 people who arrived from Iran, China, and other countries in the recent past.

The 50-bedded hospital in Gadap Town has been allocated for suspected or positive coronavirus patients. Doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff have also deputed at this hospital.

-MN Report