By Dr.Abdul Razak Shaikh,
The National Security Committee (NSC) on last week set up a National Coordination Committee to effectively curb the spread of coronavirus by evaluating the situation on a day to day basis.
The other wide-ranging decisions taken by the NSC included the closure of educational institutions for three weeks, ban on public gatherings, and complete shutdown of the Western border with Iran and Afghanistan for two weeks along with all airports except Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi for international travel.
However, seaports would remain operational with increased screening arrangements and surveillance so that the trade activities could not be affected.
The NSC, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan, had a thorough discussion on the evolving situation in the wake of new coronavirus cases in the country, and resolved to ensure public safety and well-being, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza told the media.
A day after the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic, the Sindh government last week decided that educational institutions across the province would remain closed until May 30. Meanwhile, grade 9 and 10 examinations, scheduled to begin on last Monday, have been postponed.
In a meeting of the Sindh cabinet last Thursday night, it was decided that the extended closure of schools would be considered as the summer vacation, after which they would reopen on June 1. Chairing the meeting, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that the government had to take drastic measures to contain the growing coronavirus threat.
Schools, colleges and universities, as well as tuition and coaching centers, have been closed across the province since February 27, after the country’s first coronavirus patient emerged in Karachi.
The number of confirmed cases in Pakistan of COVID-19 has risen to day by day and Globally, the virus has killed more than 10,000 people and infected over 295,000.
World Health Organisation’s Country Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala has reviewed arrangements for coronavirus screening at the Jinnah International Airport and expressed his satisfaction.
I have spent almost an hour at the Karachi International Airport and I’m quite satisfied with the screening arrangements at the airport. There are two setups for screening and they are quite satisfactory. I have given some suggestions to authorities but overall I’m satisfied with the arrangements, Dr. Palitha said
Despite the pandemic spreading across the globe, no screening measures have yet been put in place for people traveling within the country. Although the Sindh government has established screening counters and deployed health workers at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi apart from the measures being taken by airport authorities, these precautions are only for international travelers.
Health department officials told that they would now ask the federal government to expand screening to all passengers. All those who are traveling, even by road or railway should be screened, asserted a health department official, adding that several officials had noted that there was no checking procedure in other provinces.
The chances of local transmission of coronavirus have increased now, he stated, insisting that the situation was critical. The Sindh government will have to monitor domestic movement now too, which is more challenging,
So far, 11 testing facilities have been set up in the province. Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Indus Hospital and Dow University Hospital’s Ojha campus have laboratories to carry out the coronavirus testing. Others, including Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital (DRPCHK) and Sindh Government Hospital Lyari (SGHL) in Karachi, Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Khairpur, Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) in Larkana, Ghulam Muhammad Mahar Medical College Hospital (GMMMCH) in Sukkur and Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) in Hyderabad, will send their samples to these three hospitals.
While AKUH charges Rs7,900 for the test, Indus Hospital and Dow will carry out the testing for free confirmed health department officials.
Owing to the prevailing situation, the Sindh government has ordered 9,000 more testing kits, which are scheduled to arrive on a day or two.
However, not everyone with symptoms of coronavirus, which include coughing, flu, and fever will be tested for infectious diseases. Instead, only those who had a recent international travel history or contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient qualified for testing.
These qualifiers exclude those who have been in contact with an undiagnosed patient or a carrier without symptoms.
Meanwhile, the Government of Sindh have arranged nine isolation centers set up across Sindh.
There are 60 beds at LUMHS, 20 beds at DRPCHK, 18 at Liaquat University Hospital, Jamshoro, 15 at GIMS, nine at SGHL, eight each at Dow’s Ojha campus and JPMC in Karachi, and six each at Peoples Medical College Hospital in Shaheed Benazirabad, GMMMCH, and CMCH.
Apart from this, a dedicated 50-bed hospital on the outskirts of Karachi is expected to be fully functional by next week. In case of an emergency, the health department also has the option to shift patients to a 150-bed facility located outside the city.
The Sindh government on Saturday announced to close all wedding halls, shrines, and festivals across the province for three weeks.
Briefing media about the decisions are taken in Sindh Task Force meeting chaired by Chief Murad Ali Shah, Advisor to CM on Law Murtaza Wahab said the provincial govt has decided to immediately close all marriage halls and shrines for three weeks following the decisions are taken in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting.
The real efforts by the Chief Minister of Sindh against Coronavirus is highly appreciable and now we have our duty to follow the medical norms for prevention to overcome any pandemic. It has been also learned that Indus Hospital, Which is working in Karachi free of caste has set up emergency fully equipped ICU ward with the help of Sindh Government including the Ventilator system for needy patients. People of the province has lauded the efforts of the Sindh Government to prevent any disaster of COVID-19.
Sindh government have also closed the inter-city private bus service.
Latest Sindh government has requested to the federal government to close down the train services and Industries but care for the people working on daily wages. From tommorrow Sindh Government has decided to lockdown the whole province and no one allowed to come out side the home.
