RAWALPINDI: A team of specialised physicians from China is expectedto visit the capital in a week’s time to treat Covid-19 patients and help health department teams implement safety measures for Pakistani doctors dealing with the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Sources said that the concerned authorities have been directed to ensure the team of doctors is provided foolproof security. The doctors will stay in Islamabad.

The doctors were capable of treating Covid-19 patients and will have the proper medical equipment and other facilities needed in this regard.

With the number of Covid-19 patients increasing, the Punjab government has put a lockdown in place and imposed section 144.

Police officials who have been performing duties with medical staff involved in the outbreak have been directed to take precautionary measures to protect their health.

The federal government has been acquiring protective gear for doctors and health staff.

A consignment is arriving today (Wednesday) and another batch will arrive Thursday, the chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority told the press on Tuesday.

He added that material needed to make protective gear in Lahore will arrive, along with 50,000 testing kits, on Thursday as well.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2020