Govt taking all possible measures to protect health professionals: PM Imran

PESHAWAR: The government is taking all possible measures to protect health professionals who were leading the fight against the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Imran Khan said Friday.

Speaking to the media while on a visit to Peshawar, the premier said that it was likely that the health professionals would come under increased pressure as the number of cases of the virus increased across Pakistan.

"According to global trends, the virus will spread in the next few days, which will put more pressure on the medical community," he said.

"Right now our main objectives are protecting medical professionals and striking a balance between curbing the spread of the virus and keeping our economy running," he added.

PM visits HMC, briefed on virus situation

Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Peshawar on Friday on a day-long visit to review the coronavirus situation in the province.

The prime minister visited the Hayatabad Medical Complex and was briefed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government about the measures taken to stem the spread of coronavirus in the region.

Chief Secretary KP during the briefing, informed PM Imran that six districts of the province were most affected by the pandemic as compared to others.

275 quarantine centres have been set up in the province, which can house 18,000 people. There are 583 ventilators in KP and the provincial government aims at increasing their quantity, he said.

Nearly 9,000 retired medical staff, including doctors and nurses, have registered for voluntary work to tackle the pandemic, he added.

The premier appreciating the KP government said that the Centre was doing everything it could to help the provinces combat the pandemic.

The prime minister also visited a facilitation centre established for the distribution of cash grants and rations among the coronavirus affectees in the provincial capital.

The province-wide tally of coronavirus stands at 620 with 22 fatalities reported so far.

Earlier on Thursday during Quetta visit, PM Imran said that the Centre would offer all possible assistance, as well as resources, to the government of Balochistan to tackle the novel coronavirus, which has so far infected more than 200 people there, but warned that the situation could worsen in coming days.

Addressing the provincial cabinet and members of the parliament, PM Imran said the COVID-19 has become a challenge for the entire world, including Pakistan.

"We will fight as a nation against the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped almost the entire world,” he added.