Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Saturday said that the number of cases in the coming days would increase eventually.
Giving media briefing along with Special Assistant on National Security Division Dr Moeed Yusuf in Islamabad on Saturday, he said the National Command and Control Centre had a pivotal role in the control of the COVID-19 situation in Pakistan and it was a testament of national solidarity.
He said we are making preparations for future needs of the country, including those of the people and of the frontline health staff fighting against the spread of the disease.
Dr Mirza said that the personal protective equipments (PPEs) would be provided to those people serving on the frontline of the battle against the COVID-19. He urged the health professionals to promote rational use of the PPEs.
Dr Mirza said that the government was making all-out efforts to provide maximum relief to the masses. He urged the people to turn a deaf ear to rumors and follow the safety instructions issued by the government to protect themselves from the deadly virus.
Dr Mirza informed that a large number of sanitizers, which were being considered best shield against the spread of virus, had been found substandard. "Some predictive modeling is being done by the media at national and international level but those estimates are based on assumptions and should not be considered as final," he said.
Dr Mirza said that the ministry was looking into the estimates and preparing for the possible requirements to deal with the COVID-19 in the coming days but people should not pay heed to those estimates.
"Though we have put it in the priorities to provide PPE to health professionals but it is observed that a large number of health professionals are not aware of proper use of the PPEs, which include masks, caps, gowns and other equipment. So we have decided to inform them about proper use of the PPEs," he said.
Dr Mirza suggested senior doctors to train the junior doctors about the use of the PPEs and announced that soon a training program would be started at the national level.
He said that recently Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority had conducted a survey and analysis of sanitizers available in the markets of different cities. "On the basis of analysis, it can be said that a large number of substandard sanitizers are being sold in the market.
Sanitizers should have a minimum 70 percent alcohol but it is observed that less alcohol and other ingredients are being included in the sanitizers," he said. Dr Mirza said that in Lahore 22 samples were collected from the market for analysis and all of them had less than 70 percent alcohol.
He said that, under the National Command and Control Center on the COVID-19, both civil and military institutions were doing collective efforts to combat the deadly virus.
Meanwhile, a house in Burma Town in Islamabad was sealed after confirmation of virus in a 59 years old male. It was also decided to test 11 other residents of the house.