Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid has said that so far lab results have confirmed 78 people as positive for Coronavirus and the condition of four patients under treatment at Mayo hospital is out of danger. The Minister said this at a Press Conference after chairing the Cabinet Committee meeting at the Chief Minister Secretariat on directives from the Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar. MPA Musarrat Jamshed Cheema and Additional Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Asif Tufail were present on the occasion. The Minister said that private and public sector labs have confirmed 78 people as positive for COVID-19 in Punjab. Out of these 60 have travelled recently to Iran and the remaining patients came from different countries. Dr Yasmin Rashid said: “Given the scale of the Pandemic in the rest of the world, we had made preparations in advance to combat the spread of the virus. We are also developing a field hospital of 1000 patients to combat the number of patients.” The Minister said that there are three types of patients; patients with no symptoms, mild symptoms and with severe symptoms. “We are providing care to all three kind of patients. In Dera Ghazi Khan the patients with mild and sever symptoms are kept in Tayyeb Erdogan Hospital and in Lahore, the Mayo hospital is providing treatment. The North Ward at Mayo Hospital has been reserved for COVID-patients. We have reserved more than 500 beds in Teaching Hospitals for Isolation Rooms and 300 Isolation Rooms at DHQ Hospitals.” Dr Yasmin Rashid further elaborated, “The Government is working in close collaboration with the private laboratories. The test cost of COVID-19 is Rs. 7900 which the government is providing free of cost. We are working with private labs including Shaukat Khanum Lab, which is providing free tests to us. The Government is trying to contain the virus through various steps. The Day Care Centres and Schools have been closed and markets have been directed to close down by 10: 00 am initially. China was able to respond after more than one lakh patients. We were able to see their reaction and learn from them.” The Minister further said, “We have currently 736 visitors who came from Iran and another badge of 1200 travellers is coming. Further, In the next three weeks 3000 students and 2000 travellers are coming back from the affected areas. We are keeping close eyes on them. Iran has also requested us to call back Pakistani students.” About the resources, the Minister said, “The government has allocated adequate funds for the control of Corona. Funds of Rs 326 million had already been allocated. The Cabinet has approved another over one billion rupees and another five billion could be further reserved for Corona. The Punjab Healthcare Commission has asked the private labs and hospitals to observe SOPS on tests and treatment as well. The Awareness campaign will be run continuously to inform and update people about the threat of the virus,” the Minister said. The Minister emphasized that people must wash hands properly and adopt safety measures.
