PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has said that all necessary arrangements have been made to deal with the infection of coronavirus.

Chairing a meeting to discuss the preparedness level regarding coronavirus on here Tuesday, he asked the relevant authorities to scale up public awareness regarding the prevention measures.

The chief minister said that no case of coronavirus was recorded in the province but emergency was declared to ensure preventive measures, according to a statement.

“We have taken all the required steps in line with standard protocols. Guidelines have been issued to all the healthcare units to handle any possible case of coronavirus in the province,” he said.

The meeting was also attended by provincial ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Akbar Ayub, Shaukat Yousafzai and Adviser to CM Ajmal Wazir besides Health Secretary Mohammad Yahya Akhunzada, Director General Health Services Dr Tahir Nadeem Khan and other relevant officials.

The health secretary briefed the meeting about the current situation, arrangements, challenges and other aspects related to coronavirus. Regarding the major steps taken by the provincial government, it was told that standardised protocols for reporting and infection control were developed and issued.

The meeting was told that training of healthcare providers on case management was underway, control room was established at provincial level, regular daily zero reporting started and laboratory for testing of coronavirus were fully operationalised.

The statement said that provincial government released Rs100 million to the health department to make emergency arrangements. The health department has set up isolation wards at all districts level hospitals and overall 983 beds both in public and private sector hospitals have been specified for possible corona affected patients.

The rapid response units have been established in all the districts to deal with any exigency in an effective manner while line departments and autonomous bodies have been instructed to plan and execute activities pertaining to preparedness, prevention and control of coronavirus.

The chief minister directed the officials to further improve the preparedness level. He asked people to avoid getting panicked and instead adopt preventive measures at maximum level.

“Though situation at the moment is satisfactory, yet if need arises then the provincial government is ready to take all steps and utilise all available resources to protect people from the virus,” he added.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2020