MULTAN: Another 27, of 403 pilgrims, who have returned from Iran and are quarantined in Multan, tested positive for coronavirus on Friday. The results of about 346 pilgrims are still awaited. Earlier, 19 out of 546 pilgrims were tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday and so far total 51 pilgrims have been tested positive, out of total 1,295 pilgrims, who were brought to Multan’s quarantine.

Ten female and two children of six and ten years are also among the pilgrims who have been tested positive.

Four people are in the age group of 63 to 65 years, 11 from 22 to 40 years, nine from 47 to 52 years while age of a woman, has not been mentioned.

According to Deputy Commissioner Aamer Khattak, 368 pilgrims have been tested negative and tests of eight pilgrims have been suggested to be repeated.

He said that all the pilgrims who have been tested positive are being shifted to Tayyip Erdogon Hospital in Muzaffargarh.

As many as 77 pilgrims reached Multan and Bhakkar on Friday after their results were tested negative in Dera Ghazi Khan quarantine center. The pilgrims later were sent to their houses. Out of 37 pilgrims who reached Multan, 25 were from Multan, ten from Shujabad and two from Jalalpur Pirwala.

In Bhakkar 40 pilgrims were first shifted to quarantine center established by the district administration Bhukkar where they submitted affidavits that they will remain in isolation in their house.

According to the assistant commissioner of Bhakkar, the pilgrims are from Kotla Jam and Nautak.

He said that the pilgrims will allow going their houses only after their screening will be conducted again.

He said that the pilgrims would remain in isolation for 14 days in their houses while the Lombardar of area assured the district administration that the pilgrims will follow the instructions of the district government and in case in symptom is emerged in them they will inform the district administration.

DC Khattak also released the progress report of rapid response team on coronavirus, according to which the team rescued 21 suspected coronavirus patients in the last two day out of which 20 were tested negative and one was tested positive.

The DC said that the patient who was tested positive was shifted to Tayyaip Erdogon Hospital Muzaffargarh.

Up to 30 coronavirus patients have been admitted to Tayyaip Erdogon Hospital out of which 24 are positive, three are suspected and three are negative while 31 have been discharged.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2020