Coronavirus in Pakistan: Family of first confirmed patient declared ‘clear’

Karachi: According to recent reports, the family and friends of the patient in Karachi who has been tested positive for the novel coronavirus, have turned out to not been contracted with the virus.

The 22-year-old travelled to Iran where he contracted the virus. His case was confirmed along with another case in Islamabad.

He has been quarantined at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi while his family had been quarantined at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Ojha Campus. They have now been cleared of the virus and were allowed to go home.

Health authorities tested 20 of the patient’s family and friends and none of them have showed signs of contracting the virus. Six more people were currently being tested.

Dow University and AKUH have free testing facilities where people can get tested if they believe they came in contact with someone who has contracted the virus or recently travelled to Iran or China.

These were only two cases reported in Pakistan and the health department said the virus in under control in the country. It has urged people not to panic.

Earlier, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Dr Zafar Mirza, said that the two patients who were diagnosed with coronavirus were stable and their condition was improving.

In a tweet, Dr Mirza said: "Both patients of #COVIDー19 are stable and improving."

Earlier in the day, the family of Pakistan's first confirmed coronavirus patient had been cleared of suspicion for being infected, the Sindh health department said.

-MN Report