GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan government on Tuesday announced recovery of four patients of novel coranavirus in the region. A spokesperson of the regional government has announced recovery of four patients from novel coronavirus, two each from Gilgit and Skardu.
Earlier, two patients from Gilgit were recovered at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences(PIMS) in Islamabad, government spokesperson added. It is to be mentioned here that the National Command and Control Centre for the novelcoronavirus had announced 81 patients of the disease in Gilgit-Baltistan region. The total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has surged to 892 after new cases werereported in different parts of the country, the National Command and Control Centre earlierreported.
Pakistan is reeling under rapidly increasing number of the patients of COVID-19 andprovincial governments taking emergency steps including lockdown to control increasingcases of the deadly disease. The Punjab health department has confirmed that a prisoner in CampJail Lahore has been tested positive with Coronavirus on Tuesday. This prisoner was returned from Italy last month and was arrested in a narcotics case,provincial health department said in a statement. The prisoner who was shifted to jail in the first week of the month, had complained offever on March 18th, jail authorities said.
The prisoner has been shifted to hospital after being tested positive for the virus.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza Tuesday expressed the hope that the government’s strict measures will help controlling the further spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.
Addressing a routine media briefing on COVID-19, Dr Mirza said that the objective behind stern steps of provinces and involvement of Pakistan Army under article 245 was to curtail the virus at existing stage. “All provinces were making sincere efforts at their level to successfully combat the disease and making foolproof protection for citizens against COVID-19. Plans were made in accordance with the changing situation, which will hopefully improve with the passage of time”, he said.
He said that National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) was a lead organization to procure and ensure availability of necessary medical items while the Ministry of National Health Services was responsible for making need assessment of required items.
He thanked Pakistanis living inside and outside the country for their generous support offer who were willing to donate the government to meet the requirements of medical equipment etc. Dr Mirza said the government has made arrangements by making a focal point in this regard. He added NDMA would receive all such things and share it where required.
He said that as Prime Minister said that this was not a lockdown, but the permission was only for required staff at offices and those running the business of medicines, food, grocery and other essential items however other citizens were being stopped to move freely. He said that the government had planned to start training of healthcare staff and workers who were busy in treatment of coronavirus patients or to be appointed for the purpose.
Dr Mirza said that 5,000 health professionals will be trained while he also assured protection of health staff during treatment of coronavirus patients at hospitals. He added that at national level the government was also working to start national level volunteer programme.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was likely to announce economic support and protection for people in wake of prevailing coronavirus situation. He added all available resources were being allocated and joint efforts were made to control the disease. He appealed people to avoid unnecessary movement outside home and follow the directions of respective governments and administrations.
