Private hospitals to be asked to allocate beds for coronavirus patients

Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that people should be kept updated about every aspect of the prevailing situation so that there is no confusion about any issue amid coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan.

Chairing a meeting on coronavirus prevention, facilities for diagnosis and continuity of the industrial production in Islamabad on Sunday, the prime minister said a strong network of district administrations, political leaders and volunteers was meant to provide people relief in every nook and corner of the country. The meeting reviewed the demand and supply situation of daily use items through the government’s relief package, measures for the agriculture sector and enforcement of decisions taken by the National Coordination Committee.

NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal briefed the prime minister about the laboratories designated for coronavirus tests and availability of testing kits. The prime minister was informed that the number of laboratories doing coronavirus tests nationwide had been increased from 14 to 20 and the target of 32 such laboratories would be achieved soon. He was informed that 57,000 testing kits were imported from China in the first phase and another 192,000 kits would arrive in Pakistan on April 1. As a result, Pakistan will have at least 280,000 testing kits at hand.

It was decided at the meeting that private hospitals too would be asked to allocate a specific number of beds for coronavirus patients. The prime minister was also informed about the cities which are at the risk of coronavirus outbreak and the plan to spray such cities with disinfectants.