PESHAWAR: Health experts have recommended adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Covid-19 after detection of nine positive cases of three different variants of coronavirus in the past seven days in the provincial capital.

“The cases have been diagnosed in Public Health Reference Laboratory at Khyber Medical University in the past seven days. The department has already asked quarters concerned to collect samples from suspected patients for testing,” health department officials told this scribe.

They said that the newly-diagnosed cases included five JN.1, three BA.2 and one XBB.1.6. They said that ages of infected persons ranged from 22 to 72 years. The infected people included six female and three male, all residents of Peshawar, they added.

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“The department is going to start contact-tracing of the positive cases as it has happened for first time that three different strains of coronavirus have been reported simultaneously in the province,” said officials.

Health workers asked to collect samples from suspected patients for testing

Health experts said that situation could become worse if the department failed to start efforts to scale up awareness and test the close relatives of the diagnosed patients immediately.

They said that more testing was essential to ascertain the actual quantum of cases. They said that people should start observance of Covid-19 SOPs including frequent hand-washing with soap, particularly after visiting public places, and using facemasks.

They said that people with history of lungs, heart and respiratory ailments and diabetes should visit hospitals in case of having symptoms of Covid-19. Co-morbid people were most vulnerable to getting infected than normal people, they added.

Experts said that people should keep distance and avoid large gatherings and visiting events to stay safe from the infection. “People should stay home when they are sick. In case of Covid-19 symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, they shouldn’t venture out in public but seek medical advice including testing,” they said.

They said that healthcare workers should be directed by the department to observe SOPs. They should be screened to put brakes on spread of the virus. Health staff at the medical teaching institutions in Peshawar should be given priority in Covid-19 testing.

Health department officials said that the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in various hospitals of Peshawar was a matter of immediate concern. “The rise in cases is an alarming trend that requires our collective attention and immediate action. Reinforce and strictly adhere to safety protocols, including use of personal protective equipment (PPE), in hospitals. Ensure rigorous infection control practices and maintain a high standard of hygiene in healthcare facilities,” they said.

They said that health department was required to stay updated on the latest information from reliable sources such as World Health Organisation (WHO), Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local health authorities.

Health officials said that people at community level should be kept informed regarding current situation. They said that Covid-19 test could be conducted in Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL) at Khyber Medical University free of cost.

“Healthcare workers should take samples from suspected people and sent the same to our laboratory through the office of district health officer. Early detection of cases is important to isolate them and prevent spread of infection,” they said.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2024