DERA GHAZI KHAN: Delay in sampling of over 800 pilgrims quarantined at a camp established at the agriculture campus of the Ghazi University is a cause of concern, both for pilgrims and doctors.

Half of the 814 pilgrims who reached the camp from Taftan on March 14 after a tiring journey from Iran are waiting for their tests to determine if they were corona carrier.

When this correspondent contacted Dr Saeed, focal person at the quarantine centre, he said samples of 549 pilgrims had been sent for clinical analysis. Of them results of 252 had been received, with 58 corona positive.

He said the pilgrims with negative reports had been shifted to a quarantine established at the Danish School and Mir Chakar Khan Technology University, Dera Ghazi Khan.

1,247 arrive in Multan quarantine; authorities say none of them has corona symptoms

He said their second tests would be conducted after a week while rest of the pilgrims would undergo the sampling process gradually.

A source said 233 pilgrims with negative results had been shifted to 116 isolation rooms at the Danish School quarantine where two pilgrims were sharing a room.

Meanwhile, the general public is not taking the virus threat seriously despite official pleas. One can see people roaming in markets, hugging and shaking hands.

MULTAN: As many as 1,247 pilgrims who reached Multan on Friday morning are being kept at a major quarantine facility here.

Health authorities say none of them has coronavirus symptoms.

The pilgrims were received by Commissioner Shanul Haq, DC Aamer Khattak and city police officer Zubair Dareshak at Sher Shah Bypass from where they were shifted to the quarantine centre established in the industrial estate.

Breakfast was served to them after their registration.

Some male and female students who are studying in Iran and belong to Gilgit-Baltistan are also part of the caravan.

DC Khattak said the buses which brought the pilgrims were being washed with antiseptics.

According to an official handout, the health department has completed screening of all the pilgrims and no coronavirus suspect was identified.

Dr Munawar Abbas, chief executive officer of the District Health Authority, said one female pilgrim was suffering from diarrhea and cough.

Through audio messages, some pilgrims informed local media that they had not been screened so far.

District Health Officer Dr Saleem Leghari said he had also received such complaints and was looking into the matter.

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2020