Sites for field hospitals in Punjab identified

LAHORE: In the wake of coronavirus threat, sites have been identified to establish field hospitals across the province and a 1000-bed field hospital would be functional in Expo Centre, Lahore, in a week. This was stated during a meeting held to review the strategy to contain spread of coronavirus and maintain supply chain during the lockdown in the province.

Punjab Chief Secretary Major (r) Azam Suleman, Provincial Law Minister Raja Basharat, Inspector General of Police Shoaib Dastgir and other officers concerned attended the meeting whereas all divisional commissioners and regional police officers (RPOs) joined the meeting through video link.

The meeting decided that carpets would be removed from mosques for disinfecting them and space between rows for congregational prayers should be doubled by skipping one line. The chief secretary asked the health secretary to pay visits to the sites for field hospitals and complete arrangements regarding provision of beds and other facilities as early as possible. He directed that there should be no hurdle in free movement of goods transport for supply of commodities, however, action be taken against those using goods transport as private means of travel. He said that field officers should regularly visit jails and set up isolation wards there. He ordered that only prescribed number of persons be allowed in private cars and stern action be taken against the violators.

The meeting deliberated on a proposal to use railways and NLC for transportation of goods from Karachi. The IG told the meeting that at present 50,000 policemen were performing duties to enforce the government’s measures against coronavirus.