Imran Khan to be tested for coronavirus

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan, who came in contact with a coronavirus patient a week earlier, will get tested for Covid-19 today (Wednesday), said PM’s aide Firdous Awan, Geo News reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, Dr Faisal Sultan, the country’s focal person on Covid-19 and the chief executive of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, revealed that he advised the Premier to get tested after coming in contact with “a person” who tested positive with the coronavirus.

Dr Sultan was referring to Faisal Edhi, the head of one of Pakistan’s largest charities, the Edhi Foundation, who told Geo News he tested positive for coronavirus.

Speaking at a post-NCOC media briefing which was led by the Prime Minister on Tuesday, Dr Sultan said the Prime Minister, as “a responsible citizen”, would undergo the test willingly.

Edhi had met the Prime Minister on April 15 to hand over a 10 million-rupee donation on behalf of his organisation for Khan’s relief fund. A picture on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s official Twitter account shows Edhi and Khan holding a cheque as they pose for a photo.

Speaking to Geo News over the phone, Faisal said he began experiencing severe headaches and a fever on April 16 — a day after meeting with the Prime Minister.

“When this situation continued for the next two days my friends suggested that I take the test,” he said. “I have no symptoms now but my test came back positive. The doctor has told me to self-isolate for a week,” Edhi said.

The host and crew of a television show, where Faisal Edhi had made an appearance last week, has been administered tests and advised to stay at home till results return.

The charity head, who is currently in isolation in Islamabad, had insisted on getting tested because he was working with patients of coronavirus, his son Saad Edhi told Geo News. His family will also undergo tests as well, as will everyone who had come in contact with him.

As news of Edhi’s test broke, Dr Sultan told Geo News that he would meet the premier about it. “I will speak to the prime minister about this,” Sultan said. “Keeping in mind the situation and what we know about the virus and how it is spread through contact, I will make recommendations. The final decision to take the test or not rests with the prime minister, Sultan added.

Edhi Foundation is the largest Pakistani charity foundation, known worldwide for its humanitarian work. The charity was founded by Abdul Sattar Edhi, a well-known philanthropist, ascetic, humanitarian, and social activist.