ISLAMABAD: The capital administration has prepared standard operating procedures (SOP) and set up a quarantine facility at the Haji Camp.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat said that the quarantine centre has been made functional with the minimum requirements. It will serve as a pre-treatment centre to hold suspected patients on a temporary basis.

The camp consists of 48 large halls and each hall will be used for just one suspected patient according to quarantine SOPs, he said.

He added that any building declared by the administration may be converted into a quarantine facility; so far this extends to the Haji Camp, the Pak-China Friendship Centre and the OGDCL Rest House in I-9.

There are 51 rooms and halls available at the Pak-China Centre, 48 at the Haji Camp and 30 at the rest house, he added.

Quarantine facilities are being established in buildings away from public areas that have proper boundary walls, rooms with attached toilets and the necessary furniture, the SOPs said.

Doctors, paramedical staff, volunteers and police or security guards are also being provided at these facilities. People in quarantine will be checked by medical officials and records will be kept, and samples may be taken to be sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) if necessary.

All staff and volunteers will wear personal protective equipment before encountering any suspected patients, and transport will be available to move waste material to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences or the Quaid-i-Azam International Hospital, as well as samples to NIH.

Food and safe drinking water will be provided to rooms and three coloured baskets and separate laundry areas will be provided as well.

Quarantine areas will be restricted for everyone except for officials with safety measures; unnecessary visitors will not be permitted or will be managed according to the requirements.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2020