Pakistan now capable of diagnosing coronavirus: Dr Mirza

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Dr Zafar Mirza said on Sunday that 194 health information booths have been set up at various airports of the country to cope with the threat of coronavirus. In a series of tweets, he said these booths will provide answers to queries about coronavirus. He said another landmark in a very short time is the completion of coronavirus clinical care and prevention guidelines. It includes full instructions on case definition, inpatient and outpatient treatment, handling of diagnostic samples and even home care. In order to provide assistance to the Pakistani community in China, the Embassy of Pakistan has established hotlines which may be contacted. Special Assistant on National Health said around one hundred other countries are not evacuating their citizens from Wuhan.

“Alhamdolilah as of today we have now capability of diagnosing coronavirus in Pakistan. I want to applaud our NIH leadership and team for their hard work in securing the reagent for diagnosing,” Dr Zafar Mirza tweeted.

He announced that Pakistan is now capable of diagnosing the novel coronavirus, which has killed 304 people in China and infected more than 14,000.