Ok-P Minister Taimur Jhagra. PHOTO: JHAGRA
PESHAWAR: With three extra sufferers testing constructive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Wednesday, the provincial authorities on Wednesday mentioned it could droop the Annual Growth Programme (ADP) of the province to divert funds to struggle the pandemic.
“Three people have tested positive for COVID-19, one each from Buner, Mardan, and Hangu district,” mentioned the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (Ok-P) Well being Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, including, “the toll of coronavirus patients has climbed to 19.”
Jhagra was addressing a information convention within the provincial capital after attending a gathering of the provincial coronavirus process pressure.
The well being minister mentioned that every one those that have thus far examined constructive for the virus within the province had a historical past of lately travelling overseas.
Of the three new instances, he mentioned that one case is being handled on the Buner District Headquarters Hospital, whereas the remaining two have been admitted to the Girl Studying Hospital and the Mardan Medical Advanced respectively.
The well being minister, who additionally holds the portfolio of finance, mentioned the provincial authorities was assessing the state of affairs and if it aggravates, it could reduce growth spending to redirect funds.
The minister mentioned they’d a three-hour assembly which was presided by the Ok-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan. “We will fight this together and rise as a nation,” he added.
The provincial minister added that they’ve imposed emergency within the Ok-P Income Authority (Ok-PRA) in order that the federal government can procure essential gadgets required for public well being. Face masks and different gadgets protecting gears are being supplied to docs for his or her security.
In response to a query in regards to the 225 pilgrims who had lately returned from Iran and had been quarantined at a facility in Dera Ismail Khan, the minister mentioned that outcomes of their COVID-19 check are awaited.
CM seeks public assist
Ok-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, in a press release on Wednesday, urged the general public to assist the federal government’s measures to curb the unfold of the virus by strictly following precautionary measures.
In a press release on the microblogging social community Twitter, he assured that the provincial authorities is taking all doable measures to include the virus.
The chief minister mentioned that he was personally monitoring all issues associated to COVID-19 within the province and that they’re totally targeted the stopping its unfold.
On this regard, a notification issued by the Ok-P Reduction, Rehabilitation and Settlement Division mentioned that entry of common public to all secretariats, directorates, district workplaces (besides these of the district administration) has been stopped whereas the timing for presidency workplaces has been restricted from 10am to 4pm from Mondays to Thursday, and 12pm on Fridays.
All official conferences, which have greater than 5 members, will solely be held via video conferencing.
Non-public ceremonies in homes and closed compounds have additionally been banned. Barbers and sweetness parlours have additionally been ordered to shut for 15 days. All eating places and eateries within the province have been informed to stay closed till April 5, although these institutions can function for dwelling deliveries and take-away.
Banks have been directed to put in hand sanitisers at ATMs.
Cops suspected of getting COVID-19
At the least 24 police officers, together with a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), have been shifted to a quarantine facility arrange on the Haripur Diploma Faculty on Wednesday on suspicion that they may have contracted COVID-19.
These officers had been offering safety to pilgrims who had lately returned from Iran and had been travelling to Gilgit-Baltistan.
A police officer has informed The Categorical Tribune that the DSP, together with different cops are tasked with escorting pilgrims from the Pakistan-Iran border to Gilgit and vice versa.
Lack of coordination
Lack of coordination is seen among the many provincial authorities and district administrations because the latter haven’t been following the orders concerning security measures to regulate the unfold of coronavirus. Non-public colleges in a number of districts have been taking examinations.
Weddings ceremonies are being held at marriage ceremony halls whereas the district administrations have turned a blind eye in the direction of it. A number of spiritual seminaries have been holding congregation and folks from the province are collaborating in it.
Revealed in The Categorical Tribune, March 19th, 2020.
