Both coronavirus patients in Pakistan are ‘stable’, others test negative: Dr Zafar Mirza
Pakistan’s State Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza has said that the two coronavirus patients in the country are stable and their condition is improving.
The minister added that all contacts traced till now have been tested and the results were negative for the virus.
Pakistan’s health ministry confirmed its first two cases of COVID-19 — one in Karachi and the other in Islamabad — on Wednesday. Both the affected persons had traveled to Iran in the last two weeks.
Dr Zafar Mirza assured that effective measures were being taken to deal with novel coronavirus in Pakistan and that there is “No need to panic, things are under control.”
The health minister also reviewed the situation at the Taftan-Zahdan border and said Pakistani pilgrims returning from Iran will be gradually allowed entry into the country and will be screened thoroughly by medical personnel deployed at the border.
Pakistan has suspended all flights to Iran and also closed land borders. Iran now has the highest coronavirus death toll (26) outside of China.
The health minister has urged people not to panic and instead be cautious and responsible. “If you or somebody you know have recently returned from China, Iran or a country where COVIDー19 is prevalent and if there are symptoms like fever, cough, difficulty in breathing – please report by calling at 1166” the ministry said in a tweet.