–Govt installs thermal scanners to detect temperatures of passengers at checkpoints and airports
PESHAWAR: After the emergence of four cases of coronavirus in the country that have foreign travel histories, Pakistan on Sunday shut down the border with Afghanistan for one week to prevent the spread of the virus.
According to a notification issued by the Interior Ministry on Sunday, the Chaman border, which is a prominent land crossing both for cargo and passenger transport, will remain closed for a week from March 2.
“During the period, necessary measures will be taken to safeguard the health of the people of both countries,” the notification read.
In addition to this, strict precautionary measures have been put in place in the areas near the border, including the establishment of an isolation ward at DHQ Hospital, Parachinar. Isolation wards have also been set up at the Pak-Afghan Friendship Hospital, Landi Kotal, and hospitals in Jamrud.
According to the provincial health department, more than 10,000 people have undergone screening in the last five days at the Chaman border. It is worth mentioning here that Afghanistan has detected one case of coronavirus as yet.
SCANNERS SET UP AT MAJOR AIRPORTS:
Meanwhile, the federal government has installed automatic thermal scanners at major airports across the country.
The Ministry of National Health Services joined hands with the Aviation Division to install the scanners at the New Islamabad International Airport, Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport and the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar.
The thermal scanners, equipped to detect temperatures of passengers at the security checkpoints, are part of the screening mechanism put in place at all points of entry. The health and regular surveillance staff have been provided with protective equipment and kits.
CORONAVIRUS TOLL TOUCHES FOUR:
Two more cases of coronavirus had surfaced in Karachi and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) on Saturday, taking the total number of such cases to four.
Addressing a press conference along with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza had said that one of the patients was from Karachi while the other was from Islamabad and had urged the masses to refrain from panicking.
He had said that the first two patients of the virus “are recovering and one of them will soon be discharged” and had added that their clinical treatment was satisfactory and according to the guidelines of the health ministry.
The presser was held on the sidelines of a government meeting held to discuss the control and prevention of coronavirus with a focus on two themes: scaling up efforts and increasing coordination.
On Wednesday, Pakistan had confirmed the first two cases of the highly contagious virus in the same areas mentioned above and both of them had travel histories to Iran.
