Fear grips Rawalpindi as suspect of coronavirus case surfaces

Fear gripped the local population in a congested locality in Rawalpindi on Tuesday when an employee of a private bank, suspected of coronavirus was shifted by rescue team who later turned out to be an asthma patient.
People and businessmen of the twin cities - Rawalpindi and Islamabad-gave a positive response to the government's measures of the lockdown and staying homes on the first day on Tuesday with a view to prevent the outbreak of the COVID-19.
All the major and small markets, shopping malls in the twin cities were closed except for medical stores, vegetables and fruits shops and the retail outlets selling the necessary daily usages, as law enforcement agencies personnel were seen patrolling the streets and making announcements over the loudspeakers to stay at homes.
In Rawalpindi, which has so far two confirmed cases of the COVID-19, was in almost complete lockdown with major unnecessary shopping centers closed.
However, people in some localities were seen roaming on the streets despite the district administration has instructed the citizens to stay home.
According to a spokesperson for the Rescue 1122, the rescue team responded to a telephone call from a private bank in Kalma Chowk, Rawalpindi, and took a suspected patient of coronavirus to a hospital.
However, he was an asthma patient who had forgotten his medicines and inhaler at home. "Hence, the patient told the doctors that he is an asthma patient and forgot to take his medicines, therefore, no further tests were conducted," the spokesperson added.
Earlier, a video went viral on social media, in which rescue team were seen shifting a suspected patient of coronavirus in an ambulance with face covered in white cloth, triggering fear in the congested locality.
In the federal capital, where 15 cases have so far been reported, all the major shopping malls were shut following the local administration imposed a lockdown, while Union Council Kot Hathyal, Bhara Kahu, remained sealed following 13 suspected cases of coronavirus were tested positive in the locality on Monday in a group of Tableeghi Jamaat [religious preachers].
Authorities on Tuesday sealed another mosque in Kot Hathyal where a member of the religious preachers had first stayed before they were reported on Monday.
Talking to Business Recorder over the phone, residents of Kot Hathyal expressed the fear of more suspected cases, given the fact that a number of people had visited the two mosques to attend prayers and preaching sessions during the stay of religious preachers before they were shifted to the hospital for necessary medical treatment against coronavirus.
"We are in constant fear of the outbreak of the virus, as there has been no further testing of the local people against COVID-19 in the sight, and that the authorities are yet to conduct necessary sprays in the whole locality," said Bilal Ahmad, a local resident, while talking to Business Recorder over the phone.
A heavy contingent of police reached the area on Monday to impose the lockdown, in addition to directing people through loudspeakers to stay in their homes as they would be screened for the virus by health department teams.