PM Imran Khan tests negative for COVID-19

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested negative for coronavirus after fears were raised that he may have contracted the disease.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan in a tweet said the test used was a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and it turned out to be negative. This was also confirmed by the PTI Senator Faisal Javed who said the prime minister and his staff were tested coronavirus and all were healthy and without symptoms. 

Today, Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team was tested for COVID-19. All were healthy and without symptoms.
Pleased to inform that the COVID-19 test results came back Negative for Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team. Alhamdulillah
May ALLAH keep everyone safe. Prayers 🙏

— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) April 22, 2020

The prime minister underwent a test for COVID-19 after the Edhi Foundation’s chairperson Faisal Edhi, who called on him last week, was diagnosed with the virus. Medical experts from the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital took his sample for the deadly disease.

Yesterday, the prime minister ‘s personal physician Dr Faisal Sultan announced that the premier has agreed to test for COVID-19. “I am happy to announce that the prime minister, being a responsible prime minister and a responsible citizen, has agreed to get tested on my advice,” Dr Faisal Sultan said.

The tests were conducted as a precaution after Faisal Edhi, who had come in close contact with the prime minister, tested positive for COVID-19. Edhi is currently in Islamabad and had insisted on being tested since he had been on the ground working with patients. His family will also undergo tests for the virus as well.

Edhi had traveled to Lahore and then to Islamabad, where he met Prime Minister Imran Khan to make a donation for the COVID-19 relief fund on behalf of the organisation. His family said Edhi insisted on conducting the test whose result came back today as positive.

His son, Saad Edhi, told media that everyone who had come in contact with him will be tested for the virus. He said that his father was in isolation and is in constant contact with his doctor but has not been admitted in hospital.  

He added that his father was currently in Islamabad while symptoms lasted for four days before subsiding. Edhi got tested for COVID-19 and the results came back positive.

Last week, Edhi had met Prime Minister Imran Khan and presented a Rs10 million cheque to the Coronavirus Relief Fund on behalf of the organisation.