Steps taken to keep Pakistan safe from corona virus: Dr Zafar Mirza
Asghar Ali Mubarak
Islamabad; The Special Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza has said different measures have been taken to keep Pakistan safe from the corona virus.Addressing a news conference along with H.E.Mr. Muhammad Mudassir Tipu Director General China Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan in Islamabad on Saturday, he once again stated that no case of coronavirus has yet been confirmed in the country. He said the government is launching a campaign on the electronic media from today to create awareness amongst the people about the virus. The Special Assistant said that we will also receive the kits today for the diagnosis of this virus. While addressing a press conference, Zafar Mirza said, “Through this one measure we have ensured Pakistan remains free from the disease. Because our case definition says that travelling and staying in China is an important factor [behind the spread of the disease],”“Those declared free of the virus after the period will be issued with a certificate that assures the airport officials that they are free from the disease,” Mirza said.“Chairman Pemra has reached out to all the TV channels. Through public service messaging, we will brief the public,”“The government will take good care of the students who have contracted the virus,”“Till now, seven or eight countries have carried out evictions or requested china for evacuation,”“We should not forget in Wuhan people from 120 countries are living in the city and 120 countries support that China is correctly handling the measures,”“Thirty to forty people have planned this. If we implement this plan successfully then we will protect Pakistani people from this disease,” assured Dr Mirza.“Certainly it is not a gesture of goodwill,” He added
According to H.E.Mr. Muhammad Mudassir Tipu Director General China Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan thanked the Chinese authorities who he said has taken immense pains to help the Pakistani students in Wuhan and hoped that Beijing will continue to take best possible measures for the protection of Pakistani nationals in China.
Independent reports quoting the Pakistani students and families speak of lack of food and other commodities, panic amongst them and requests for quick repatriation.
Also there are appeals through videos by nearly 150 Pakistani nationals who are waiting at Xinjiang airport for several days, many with expired visas as flights to Pakistan have been cancelled.
Pakistan has decided not to repatriate its citizens citing recommendations of the World Health Organisation. H.E.Mr. Muhammad Mudassir Tipu Director General China Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan said, “”We believe that right now, it is in the interest of our loved ones in China, it is in the larger interest of the region, world, country that we don’t evacuate them now. This is what the World Health Organisation is saying, this is China’s policy and this is our policy as well. We stand by China in full solidarity.”More over the UN health agency, World Health Organization (WHO) declared an international emergency over the deadly corona virus from China.“Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems. This is not a vote of no confidence in China,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told.China reported its biggest single-day jump in novel coronavirus deaths on other day.Global fears deepened with more infections confirmed overseas including three Japanese evacuated from the outbreak’s epicentre.The World Health Organization which initially downplayed a disease that has now killed 170 in China, was readying to meet Thursday to decide whether to declare it a global emergency.Many countries have urged their citizens not to visit China, while some have banned entry for travellers from Wuhan.At least 15 countries have confirmed infections.The US reported its first case of a person catching the virus from another person on American soil.Airlines began cancelling flights servicing China on Wednesday, and more followed suit on Thursday .More than 6,000 tourists were put under lockdown aboard a cruise ship at an Italian port after two Chinese passengers were isolated over fears they could be carrying the coronavirus.Beijing has taken extreme steps to arrest the spread of the virus, including effectively quarantining more than 50 million people in Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province. The number of confirmed new cases also grew steadily to 7,711, the National Health Commission said.Another 81,000 people were under observation for possible infection.