Coronavirus

The prime minister wrote, “I want to inform the nation I am personally overseeing measures to deal with COVID-19 & will address the nation soon. I would advise people to follow safety instructions issued by our govt. While there is a need for caution there is no need for panic,” he emphasised in his tweet.

Dr Mirza said that the kits were provided to the labs free of cost and no fees were charged for conducting coronavirus tests. "Pakistan is one of the few countries in the world that can produce its coronavirus kits," he said.
The prime minister's special assistant said that 25 hospitals across the country had been designated to treat patients suffering from the virus.

Meanwhile, the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on coronavirus Friday met at the Ministry of Health here and reviewed the status of decisions taken by the National Security Committee (NSC) a day earlier in a bid to ensure fast-track implementation. “A coordinated national response to safeguard the health of the people of Pakistan is underway, with the federal and provincial governments and all relevant agencies working in unison to meet the challenge,” the PM’s Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza is reported to have stated as chair of NCC.
The meeting was told that the provinces have already enforced major decisions including closure of educational institutions including ‘madaris’ for three weeks; proper screening of incoming travelers at Kartarpur; and closure of the country’s western borders for two weeks.

Dr Zafar underlined the need not to panic and to fight this challenge as one nation by protecting ourselves through simple precautionary measures. While the government officially confirmed 29 cases as of Saturday, unofficial sources placed the number at 31.
Dr Zafar said the Ministry of Information, ISPR and the Ministry of Health will work jointly to keep the public informed on coronavirus. Public is being given guidance and provided necessary assistance through helpline 1166. All points of entries to the country are being further strengthened with enhanced health screening facilities and equipment, the meeting was told.
The role of the media is of critical importance to ensure that only authentic and accurate information is provided to the people so panic can be avoided and risk averted he added.