KOHAT: A helpline was set up here on Tuesday to monitor and provide immediate relief to suspected patients of Covid-19 across the Kohat division. A team of experts would remain available at the facility 24/7.

Divisional police chief Tayyab Hafeez Cheema opened the ‘Madadgar-15’ facility.

He said patients from Orakzai, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Kohat and Darra Adamkhel would be provided help. He said a special coordination centre and a control room had also been set up which would operate 24/7.

He said services of police officials, Rescue 1122, medical experts, technical people and administrative officers had been sought, who would coordinate in case of an emergency and provide their expertise to the people.

Mr Cheema said details of suspects from all the five districts and the tribal division were being compiled.

On the occasion, Kohat district police officer Mansoor Aman advised people to remain indoors to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

VIRUS PREPAREDNESS: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary Dr Kazim Niaz has stressed that people can fight coronavirus by strictly following the guidelines issued by the government.

During a visit to Kohat on Tuesday, he was given a briefing about the preparations to combat the virus.

He asked the administration officials to remain on high alert and check price hike, hoarding and ensure supply of food items to people without any difficulty.

Kohat commissioner Abdul Jabbar, deputy commissioner Abdur Rehman, DIG Tayyab Hafeez Cheema, civil and military officials were in attendance.

He was informed that three quarantine centres had been established at the government girls college, Gumbat, government girls college, Lachi, and Fata University in Darra Adamkhel.

PEOPLE CONTINUE TO MINGLE: The lockdown seems to have no effect on people as they continue to mingle.

In Mohallah Qazian, children as usual gather in the morning in large number and play cricket till evening.

The police personnel deployed near the Martyrs Square in Sangreh area do not bother to stop locals from sitting in the groups at the Chowk. It has also been observed that most people do not wear masks.

In the KDA Teaching Hospital, dozens of patients were seen on Tuesday sitting close to each other on benches in the emergency without wearing masks.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2020