Health workers dying of coronavirus will receive status of martyr: Dr Zafar Mirza

Dunya News

Deceased health workers would receive a relief package equal to that of a martyr

 ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Health Dr. Zafar Mirza has said that the health workers who lose their lives while treating a coronavirus patient will be given the status of martyr.

Giving a media briefing in Islamabad, Dr Zafar Mirza said that this important decision was taken in the federal cabinet meeting. The government is concerned about the safety and well-being of frontline workers and their families for which 100% pension and government allotted house will be maintained for the deceased health workers.

Dr Zafar Mirza said that deceased health workers would receive a relief package equal to that of a martyr, ranging from Rs3 million to Rs10 million.

He said that deaths from coronavirus have been at a constant level for the past two weeks. In the last 24 hours, there have been 20 deaths and an increase of 751 patients has been reported, out of which most cases have been reported from Sindh.

The Special Assistant said that if precautionary measures are taken seriously, the virus would spread slowly. There are currently over 14,000 patients of the deadly virus in Pakistan, of whom more than 3,000 have recovered.