Coronavirus: Pakistan begins screening of Chinese passengers

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has begun monitoring passengers coming from China at all airports as countries in the world are rushing to stop the spread of the fatal disease triggered by a new virus called ‘2019-nCoV.’

A day earlier, Pakistan’s health officials released an emergency warning to all concerned to take preventive measures. so far, only in the Chinese city of Wuhan, 17 people have been killed and 570 diagnosed with coronavirus.

READ MORE: China bars 11m citizens from leaving city at centre of coronavirus

Similarly, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, said that all passengers coming from China to Pakistan will have to experience a tight-screening at Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore airports.

He further said that many Chinese have now gone for New Year celebrations and would be screened strictly by the authorities in particular when they return back.

The health ministry has lined out a detailed plan of action that the airports and all the airlines involved should follow it strictly, Dr. Zafar Mirza said.

READ ALSO: Patients blinded due to eye drops at hospital in Islamabad

All hospitals throughout the country were also informed that anyone visited China recently and found with symptoms of pneumonia, cold, sneezing, coughing, and fever was asked to report immediately to the nearest health facility center, he added.