Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza in a tweet on Wednesday evening claimed two cases of Novel Coronavirus in Pakistan.
“I can confirm first two cases of coronavirus in Pakistan. Both cases are being taken care of according to clinical standard protocols & both of them are stable,” he wrote.
“No need to panic, things are under control,” he added, announcing that he will hold a press conference tomorrow on his return from Taftan.
He mentioned one of the cases was reported in Sindh while the second was confirmed in “federal areas” and both the affected persons had travelled to Iran in the last two weeks but refused to comment further on the two cases.
In response to a question, he said 15 suspected cases of the virus are currently under investigation, while 100 cases have tested negative so far.
He said instead of creating panic or worrying needlessly, people should “take precautions and show responsibility”.
Mirza urged the public to go to hospitals if they start experiencing any of the symptoms and contact the government helpline on 1166.
He said due to measures taken by the government to prevent the spread of the virus, Pakistan is the last country in the region where COVID-19 has been reported.
“We are on the right track. With Allah’s blessings, this [virus] will not take the form of an outbreak in Pakistan,” the SAPM said, adding that measures are in place to prevent an outbreak.
The 22-year-old male patient and his family have been placed in quarantine and the Health Department is in the process of examining all the passengers that he travelled with, the statement added.
The Sindh government has informed the federal government, World Health Organisation and other partners about the confirmation of the virus in the patient. “The passengers who travelled with him were exposed as well; we will track down all the passengers and carry out their tests,” she added.
No information was immediately available about the second case identified in Pakistan.
Home Care Recommendation for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) [1]
• What is Corona Virus?
2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a virus identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness.
Given your recent travel or contact with someone who has travelled, there is chance you may have caught this virus.
• What precautions do I need to take at home?
Stay in a well-ventilated single room.
Limit the movement within the house.
Avoid shared spaces.
Use surgical mask at all times. If the mask gets wet or dirty with secretions, it must be changed immediately.
Cover your mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and immediately throw the tissue.
Keep your hands clean by using soap and water or an alcohol disinfectant.
• What precautions do people taking care of me take?
Only healthy people with no other health issues should take care of you.
The caregiver should wear a surgical mask when in the same room with you.
The masks should not be touched or handled during use
Throw the mask away after use.
Clean their hands using soap and water or an alcohol disinfectant after taking the mask off.
• What precautions do the people I live with need to take?
Avoid visitors while you have symptoms.
Household members should stay in a different room or if that is not possible, maintain a distance of at least 1 meter.
Hand must be cleaned before and after preparing food, before eating, after using the toilet, and whenever hands look dirty.
• What should I do if any person I have met develops symptoms?
Have the persons contact your local doctor to be checked.
• Do I need to make any special arrangements at home?
Dust bins should be lined with plastic bags and the bags tied before throwing.
Use a diluted solution (1-part household bleach to 99 parts water) to clean bedside bathroom, toilet surfaces tables, bedframes, and other bedroom furniture once a day.
Place used linen in a laundry bag. Do not shake soiled laundry and avoid direct contact of the skin and clothes with contaminated material.
Wash beddings, hand towels and clothes with regular laundry detergent in water at a temperature of 60- 90 °C. [1]
Prevention:
- Avoid public places.
- Avoid direct contact with animals.
- Wash hands regularly.
- Stay at a distance with anyone showing signs of cold and flu.
- Cook meat well.
- Up your vitamin C intake (immune booster).
- Stock up on stock and broth (immune booster).
- Stay hydrated.
DUA for protection
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبَرَصِ، وَالْجُنُونِ، وَالْجُذَامِ، وَمِنْ سَيِّئِ الأَسْقَامِ
ALLAHUMMA INNI AUDHUBIKA MINAL BARSI, WAL JUNOONI, WALJUZAAMI, WA SAYYIL ASQAAM
Oh ALLAH I seek Your refuge from leprosy, Insanity, mutilation and from all serious illness.
Source: [1] nCoVirus Clinical Care & Prevention GoP guidelines.
