The government submitted a report to the Supreme Court on its national action plan against the Coronavirus outbreak that the number of cases in Pakistan is lower than European countries and Iran at the end of the 35-day period (Feb 26 to Apr 1).
Report stated that the testing of quality should enhance. We also emphasizing the necessity of training burial workers and religious leaders on proper protocols for burial of patients who died from Covid-19.
Report informed the court about the steps taken by the government so far and also solicits recommendations from the apex court for further action.
The report claimed that the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) started off early preparations to tackle with the Coronavirus cases. These efforts included establishing Standard Operating Procedures for screening of people at all points of entry and issuing guidelines for contact management to all provinces.
According to the report, testing facilities have been provided in all the provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan while indigenously developed testing kits by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) had been sent to DRAP Technical Assessment Committee. If these testing kits are approved, they will then be made available to the public.
It also written in report that some 13,000 surveillance centres had been establish across the Pakistan which would submit data to the Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad. The task has been assigned to EOC for submitting daily situation reports and to conduct data analysis and risk assessments.
Report stated on finances that funds from World Bank and Asian Development Bank were also used for strengthening preparedness and response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Furthermore the Ministry of Finance had also released emergency funds for dealing with the cases of Coronavirus.
Report further stated about the arrangements had been made in 154 districts across the Pakistan to keep suspected patients of the virus under quarantine.