Report on coronavirus: 'Number of cases in country lower than EU states, Iran after 35 days'

The federal government informed the apex court that after 35 days (February 26 to April 1) the number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan was lower than European countries and neighbouring Iran.
The government on Saturday submitted a report about the National Action Plan.
According to it, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) started off early preparations to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
These efforts included establishing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for screening of people at all points of entry and issuing guidelines for contact management to all provinces.
The report said that testing facilities had been established in all the provinces, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while indigenously developed testing kits by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) had been sent to the DRAP Technical Assessment Committee. If these testing kits are approved, they will then be made available to the public.
It also said some 13,000 surveillance centers had been set up across the country, which would submit data to the Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad.
The EOC had also been made responsible to submit daily situation reports and to conduct data analysis and risk assessments.
"Funds from World Bank and Asian Development Bank were also used for strengthening preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic," the report said on financial preparation.
It added that the Ministry of Finance had also released emergency funds for dealing with the coronavirus.
It said arrangements had been made across the country to keep suspected patients of the virus under quarantine.
The report said the government emphasised upon the necessity of training burial workers, and religious leaders on proper protocols for burial of patients, who died from the COVID-19.
Secretary Ministry of Interior also filed the report about the measures taken to combat the spread of the COVID-19.
It says that the competent authority under Article 245 of Constitution and Section 131-A of the CrPC 1898 has authorised deployment of army in addition to the civil administration in the ICT and in all other parts of the country in connection with the prevailing situation relating to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic at their request.
The Pakistan Coast Guards has sealed all the jetties to control the movement from the sea.
All arrivals at airports, sea ports and land ports, are being managed in coordination with the relevant stakeholders.