MIANWALI: Four suspected cases of coronavirus were admitted over the past few days to various isolation wards established in the district, while one of them was released on Tuesday after he tested negative.

The focal person for the health department on coronavirus, Dr Muhammad Kashif Miana, told Dawn that a few days ago, a resident of Shadia was shifted to Wan Bhachran Rural Health Centre (RHC) in Mianwali tehsil as a suspected case of coronavirus with chest pain, fever and cough. His travel history showed that he had returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah.

His test reports were received on Monday which declared him negative, so doctors discharged him, he added.Dr Miana further said that three others were still in quarantine and their test reports were awaited. Giving details, he said a resident of Burzi village of Isakhel tehsil of the district reported to the Qamar Mushani RHC with flu, cough and chest pain. He had recently returned to Pakistan on a leave from his job in Qatar.

The second suspected case belonged to Mandakhel in Isakhel tehsil and was admitted to the DHQ hospital. The third suspect, also from Mandakhel, was admitted to the Kalabagh THQ Hospital. He was employed in Saudi Arabia and had returned home a few days ago.

The samples of all three had been sent to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad and their reports were awaited.

Dr Miana appealed to the people of Mianwali district not to panic and just shift any suspected case to their nearest isolation centre as their national duty.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2020