NCC decides to limit congregational prayers in mosques
The meeting decided to extend the closure of educational institutions till May 31
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Thursday decided to limit the congregational prayers in mosques.
The meeting presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan also decided to extend the closure of educational institutions till May 31, while meeting will be held tomorrow to discuss matters regarding transport.
Addressing the media briefing on coronavirus update along with Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noor ul Haq Qadri, Special Assistant on Information Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza and Chairman NDMA Lt. Gen. Muhammad Afzal in Islamabad on Thursday, Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar said that national strategy is being fully implemented to cope with the threat of coronavirus pandemic.
The minister said that the pandemic has spread to more than 182 country, adding that the global crisis is also affecting Pakistan. He said that the citizens should also do their part to prevent the spread of the virus.
Asad Umar went on to say that PM Imran Khan announced the largest economic package in the history. He said the special package would be implemented in letter and spirit and in a transparent manner so that its benefits could reach the deserving people. The government was also assembling a volunteers brigade consisting of young people about which Prime Minister Imran Khan himself make an announcement in a day or two, he added.
As regards the news about the shortage of wheat or wheat flour, the minister said at present some 1.7 million metric tonnes wheat was available in the stocks while the new crop was ready to yield, which would be procured by the government, for which a comprehensive plan was being evolved.
Asad Umar said some elements were reportedly hoarding the eatable commodities. He, however, expressed the government’s resolve that stern action action would be taken against such elements.
Regarding transportation issues and problems of fuel supplies in some areas of the country, the minister said the issue would be discussed in tomorrow’s meeting for sorting out a solution to ensure smooth fuel supplies.
He said the medical staff engaged in treating the coronavirus patients were the front line warriors.
Medical equipment to be made available by April 5
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza said all the required medical equipment and coronavirus (COVOD-19) treatment items for health professionals and patients would be made available by April 5.
Dr Mirza said the supply of personal protection equipment (PPE) kits and other medical devices for health professionals working at intensive care units of various hospitals for the corona patients treatment was in process.
With the addition of those items in health system, the condition of designated hospitals would further improve and the patients would get better services while doctors would have more protected atmosphere, he added.
He said the coronavirus caseload in Pakistan had reached 1,102 with 102 new cases reported during the last 24 hours. Total eight deaths had been reported from the disease so far while five patients were still in critical condition.
He said 21 patients had been recovered while 417 cases were reported from Sindh, 223 from Punjab, 121 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 131 from Balochistan, 25 from Islamabad Capital Territory, 84 from Gilgit Baltistan and one from Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He said as many 575 confirmed patients were admitted in various hospitals, 570 of them were stable.
He said during the last 24 hours around 73,000 telephone calls had been received at the Ministry of National Health Services Helpline 1166. Keeping in view the burden on existing helpline system, the government had decided to improve its capacity to serve maximum number of people.
Dr Mirza said total 6,589 people, who were shifted from Taftan, were living in different quarantine centres in the provinces. Around 24% of them were tested positive, while the remaining, who were tested negative, would be allowed to go to their homes.
He expressed the hope that the government s strict measures would help control the further spread of coronavirus in the country.
He added that the government had included infectious disease expert Dr Faisal Sultan in its health team against the coronavirus as focal point.
He said it had been planned to start training of the healthcare staff and workers, who were busy in the treatment of coronavirus patients or to be appointed for the purpose.
He once again advised the citizens to avoid unnecessary movement outside home and adopt all preventive measures, including staying at home, avoid shaking hands, washing hands for 20 seconds and social distancing.
China to provide walk through testing facility
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal said the Chinese government is sending a walk through testing facility machine to diagnose COVID-19 or Coronavirus.
He said it would be helpful to diagnose a large number of people for this corona virus, especially in those area where test facility not available.
In a week this machine would be available here, he said it was a plan to install this device in different cities where maximum number of people could be entertained for test of coronavirus.
General Afzal informed that there were only 700 intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the country when the National Security Council started its initiatives to contain COVID-19.
At present, he said there were 19,672 ICU beds across the country whereas there were 400-500 quarantine type facilities. In the federal capital and provinces overall 162,000 quarantine beds to facilitate the coronavirus affected population.
The NDMA chairman mentioned that around 1,795 three-four star hotels’ rooms were being booked to set up quarantines across the country. “As many as 42,000 rooms have been acquired to set up one room for one person in case the pandemic surges as the 4th line defense in the fight against coronavirus.”
He noted that around 194,000 medical practitioners in the country were working at various healthcare facilities to deal with the coronavirus patients that comprised of 30,000 ICU workers who were directly exposed to an affected patient.
NDMA, he said had designed a kit containing gown, combination shield, goggles, 2 N95 masks, 30 surgical masks and a handwash enclosed in a box. “Just like a soldier is provided with his kit during a war similarly our medical workers till April 5 next Sunday will get their kits across the country.”
