A doctor at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Mardan who raised his voice against a lack of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for healthcare workers at the facility has tested positive for Covid-19 and is now in isolation, the KP Young Doctors Association said.

It regretted that the hospital's medical superintendent had sought an explanation from Dr Ziaur Rehman, who is a medical officer at the DHQ Mardan's casualty department, after he gave an interview to a TV channel in which he demanded PPEs for young doctors.

The association asked the government to provide safety kits for doctors "on a war footing".