Malik asked Ministry of Interior to direct personnel of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other forces deployed at country's exit points (airports and seaports) to strictly wear respiratory face masks. The novel coronavirus spread earlier in Iran but the outbreak of virus was not announced publicly due to the election, he said, adding that over 7,500 Zaireen had already came to Pakistan from Iran.

Malik directed the National Institute of Health (NIH) and other departments to identify residences of those 7,500 Zaireen (pilgrims) and conduct necessary tests. He directed that the families of all the Pakistanis that returned from Iran and other affected countries must be quarantined for 14 days, and they shall be provided with free food and medicine on government expenses.

Malik also suggested diverting flights coming from coronavirus-effected countries to the old airport of Islamabad. He directed the PEMRA to ensure that awareness material produced by the Ministry of Health must be disseminated to all channels making it mandatory for airing.

Major General Aamir Ikram, Director General (Health) of the NIH, while briefing the committee, said that following the outbreak of coronavirus in China, strict measures of screening had been started at all airports and as many as 558,545 individuals had been screened at seven airports.

"NIH has so far conducted tests of 118 samples of which one is tested positive and 117 negative, while Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi tested 23 samples of which one is tested positive and 22 negative," he said Ikram said that a National Action Plan (NAP) for preparedness and response to coronavirus had been framed.

He said that total number of Pakistani students in China was 28,000 of which 620 were in Wuhan. Following the outbreak of coronavirus, strict screening had been started at all airports, health facilities across Pakistan notified, and focal persons nominated "Diagnostic capability attained", he said.

The official said that a centralize core committee comprising representatives of all provinces had been set up and consultation with international donor had also started. "Coronavirus has spread in 48 countries. Out of 82,147 reported cases of coronavirus, 3,650 cases have been reported outside China," he said, adding that out of 139 cases in Iran, 19 persons lost their lives.

He said the government had also prepared a plan for bringing Pakistani students stuck in Wuhan. He said that close monitoring of outbreak of situation in Iran had been started and inter-ministerial links had been established.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020