ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza claimed on Monday that no case has been reported in the country so far as all the Chinese have also been cleared from coronavirus.
Addressing a news conference alongside Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing in Islamabad, Mirza said the two countries were on the same page.
He said authorities, with the help of China, have completed proper planning to prevent an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Pakistan.
The two officials also appraised the public on measures taken by the two governments to contain the virus’ outbreak.
Referring to the suspected cases in Pakistan, Dr Mirza said seven individuals have been cleared and their tests have come back negative.
He added that the government had defined SOPs at all the airports for the people arriving from China and intended to consult with the provinces on the matter. “Our teams will go into the provinces to ensure they are on the same page as the Centre.”
Reiterating the government’s decision not to repatriate Pakistani nationals from Wuhan – the epicenter of the virus – he said, “It is better for them to stay there to ensure they are monitored and treated.”
He said that the government ‘is worried about the Pakistani citizens’ but ‘we also want to ensure there is no outbreak’.
“It is a tough decision for us.” However, the defacto health minister did say that decisions were subject to review.
He further urged the media to assist the government and push prevention guidelines to the public.
When asked about the test kits, Mirza said: “We do not want to dwell much on it since the medical kits are currently limited in quality and all the countries are seeking it.”
“What’s important is that Pakistan is now equipped to diagnose novel coronavirus,” he asserted.
Earlier on Monday, passenger flights from virus-hit China arrived at the Islamabad International Airport – repatriating Pakistanis stranded in the country – as flight operations between the two countries resumed.
Flights between the two countries were earlier suspended after the World Health Organisation declared the Wuhan coronavirus as a global health emergency. Pakistan on Friday had halted flights to and from China with immediate effect till February 2.
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