CHAKWAL/ATTOCK: As the number of suspected caronavirus patients continued rising across the country, the district administrations in Chakwal, Jhelum and Attock established quarantine centres.

“Two quarantine centres have been set up at Cadet College Chakwal and Cadet College Choa SyedanShah,” a senior official of the District Health Authority told Dawn. The official said 100 beds had been arranged at each centre.

Another official of the district administration said people returning from affected countries would be quarantined at these centres for 14 days.

“If any of the suspects shows any symptoms of Covid-19 they would be shifted to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology,” the official added. Chief Executive Officer of District Health Authority Dr Saadat Ali told Dawn that not a single confirmed case had emerged so far in the district.

“We had a suspect but he tested negative,” he added.

There were 23 people from Chakwal among those quarantined in Dera Ghazi Khan who would be allowed to leave the centre after spending 14 days and clearing the Covid-19 test.

“We have set up a High Dependency Unit at the District Headquarters Hospital while isolation wards have been established at every public health unit,” Dr Ali said.

Additional Deputy Commissioner General Mehreen Fahim Abbasi said a Coronavirus Crisis Management Cell had been set up at the DC office.

“We have to be ready for any untoward situation and in this regard the district administration has taken a number of steps,” she added.

Attock

The health department in collaboration with the district administration has made arrangements to establish 73 quarantine centres in Attock.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Asad Ismail said so for no case of coronavirus had been reported in the district.

About corona suspected patients, the DHO said three patients were admitted to a hospital and two of them tested negative while the test result of the third one was awaited.

In reply to a question about the safety of doctors, paramedics and other allied staff, he said sufficient personal protection equipment were available.

Dr Ismail asked people to maintain social distancing, stay indoors and avoid visiting public places.

Meanwhile, the administration and the health department in Taxila have made arrangements to establish a quarantine centre in the hostel of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET).

It is the second quarantine established in the area as another facility has already been established at Government College of Technology, Hattar Road.

“In the first leg of arrangements, the ground floor of the boys and girls hostel has been converted into a quarantine while the first and second floors would gradually be converted in to quarantine keeping in view the influx of suspected patients,” said Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Faheem.

Jhelum

Deputy Commissioner Jhelum Saif Anwar Jappa said quarantine centres for suspected coronavirus patients had been established in Jhelum city and Dina town.

Visiting the facilities established at Government College for Women in Jhelum, district courts and Chak Daulat, the deputy commissioner said so far no confirmed case had been reported in the district.

However, he said the district administration was coordinating with the provincial and federal health authorities with regard to precautions against Covid-19.

He said a quarantine centre had also been established at a private college and the regional campus of the Punjab University in Dina town.

A quarantine centre has also been established at a private college in Gujar Khan.

Kalar Syedan tehsil administration was also taking measures to establish the facility at Government Boys Degree College.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2020