LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has directed that all necessary preparations be made to take preventive measures for controlling coronavirus.

The chief minister was chairing a meeting to review the preventive measures for controlling coronavirus at chief minister’s secretariat on Monday.

The meeting decided to arrange diagnostic kits of coronavirus on an emergent basis. While giving approval of importing kits, the chief minister directed to take all necessary measures for making the scanning system at airports more effective besides making a close liaison with line departments.

Mr Buzdar directed Punjab Food Authority to strictly check fish markets and other food points and said that special attention should be paid for the cleanliness of such areas. Though the situation is normal in Punjab, he said, there still was a need to complete all arrangements besides strictly following preventive measures developed by WHO.

The primary and secondary health department secretary informed that no suspected patient of coronavirus had been found in Punjab. All the suspected patients were found suffering from normal influenza.

He said surveillance and response units had been set up by the Punjab government which was functional round the clock. He said isolation wards had been set up in hospitals. He said screening of over 50 Chinese people had been completed. Officials concerned attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2020