Seven quarantine centres set up in Khyber

PESHAWAR: Adviser to Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations Ajmal Wazir said on Sunday seven quarantine centres have been set up in the Khyber tribal district for people returning from Afghanistan which could accommodate 1,500 people.

He said this during a visit to inaugurate the Quarantine Centre at Jamrud established in 30 days record time in Khyber district, said an official handout. The adviser added that 713 people have come from Afghanistan so far who have been quarantined at the centres. About the returnees from Afghanistan, Ajmal Wazir said they will be placed first in quarantine centres, followed by isolation and thereafter in high-dependency units. Of the coronavirus cases situation in KP, the adviser said 1, 37 positive cases have been reported across the province to date. He added that 226 coronavirus infected patients have recovered while 60 deaths reported until now in the province.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Mehmood Aslam Wazir gave a detailed briefing to the adviser on facilities and other needs at the quarantine centres. The advisor said that 319 people, including 108 men and 211 women are in the Shahkas Quarantine Centre of the district. Ajmal Wazir said a quarantine centre established at Jamrud Fort, with a capacity of 300 people was being made a model isolation village with attached washrooms in each and every room.

The adviser said the testing process is underway and those people whose tests will come out to be negative, will be sent to native areas and those found positive will spend the determined time at the isolation wards. Ajmal Wazir said proper arrangements have been made for those coming from Afghanistan as well as from the United Arab Emirates.

He said the KP government provided all the requisite facilities to the coronavirus patients at these quarantine centres and a camp office has also been set up at the Jalalabad Consulate of Pakistan. Ajmal Wazir said the chief minister is monitoring all measures and facilities by himself and has visited various districts for that. He said the public will have to observe social distancing and avoid physical contacts to get themselves protected from the viral disease. The advisor was all praise for the facilities and security equipment provided by the Khyber district administration.