FAISALABAD: The General Hospital in Ghulam Muhammadabad wears a deserted look as the district administration converted it into a treatment facility for coronavirus patients only.

All patients being treated here were shifted to the Allied and DHQ hospitals, and banners had been displayed at various spots that only coronavirus suspects would be treated at the infirmary.

No case of the virus has so far emerged in Faisalabad and arrangements have been made by the district administration to tackle suspects.

A district government officer said they had not taken over any educational institution to quarantine suspected cases. So far no positive case had been detected here and screening was actively under way to check those landing in Faisalabad. He said the Ghulam Muhammadabad hospital had 250 beds and separate beds had been allocated for suspects and positive cases of the virus.

All patients admitted previously shifted to Allied, DHQ hospitals

Any suspected cases in the entire district will be transferred to the Ghulam Muhammadabad Hospital, he said, adding that all officials of state-run hospitals had been informed in this regard. He said the hospital staff had also been directed to wear masks and gloves to avoid contact with carriers of the virus.

“We have shifted the general patients to the Allied and DHQ hospitals for their treatment and no new patient except coronavirus will be admitted to the Ghulam Muhammadabad hospital,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ali said the hospital would exclusively facilitate coronavirus suspects, who would be quarantined in two separate premises here.

He further said they had established a quarantine facility for 2,700 suspects and one exclusive hospital for 250 patients. Another facility with 400 beds is also available in case of emergency. “We have all paraphernalia for both hospital and quarantine,” he claimed.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2020