GWADAR: The Balochistan health department has set up three isolation wards in state-run hospitals in Gwadar district to cope with the deadly coronavirus.

The health department has expedited its efforts to ensure preventive measures in Gwadar as passengers coming to the port city from other countries are being screened.

“To meet any emergency situation three isolation wards have been established in GDA Hospital Gwadar, Pasni Hospital and Red Crescent Hospital GPA,” District Health Officer Gwadar Dr Kahor Khan told Dawn. He said that after the spread of coronavirus in China and Iran, the passengers coming by air and sea were being screened, while a screening desk had been established at Gwadar International Airport. A screening centre had also been set up at Fifty Crossing, Pak-Iran border, along with an isolation ward, he added.

“Screening system has also been installed in Jiwani to examine passengers coming via sea, while quarantine has been established at a Chinese construction company’s Expressway site where four Chinese workers are present,” he said, adding that so far 763 passengers had been screened.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2020