KARACHI:Sindh government has requested the authorities concerned of federal government to establish ‘Quarantine Facility’ at Jinnah International Airport Karachi to control Coronavirus.
Provincial Minister for Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has requested through a letter to Minister for Interior Ijaz Ahmed Shah, Federal Minister for Aviation Division Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza to establish Quarantine Facility at Karachi Airport after reporting Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.
She stated that recently, around 14 cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Karachi; and all of them have arrived in Sindh through Jinnah International Airport Karachi. In this reference to this concern of the provincial government that they have not been identified on arrival at Karachi airport.
A decision has been taken during an evening meeting held under the chair of Chief Minister Sindh to coordinate with Federal government for establishment of quarantine facility within the premises of Karachi airport already identified by the Manager Karachi airport forthwith, so that there should be minimum journey and spread of suspected cases within urban areas, which are highly infective for transmission of virus.
Fourth more, legally under the constitution (schedule-IV) the responsibility for Port Quarantine and Airports lies with the Federal Government. In this context, Health Department Government of Sindh had decided to coordinate with Federal Government to ensure that none of passengers, who are symptomatic with flu, cough, body pain, fever and shortness of breath, may enter into Sindh without screening and testing.
It was requested that necessary directions may be communicated to the concerned quarters for the establishment for quarantine facility within the premises of Jinnah International Airport Karachi, so that health screening desks which are established at the airport by Health Department Sindh with the support of Federal Government, may immediately refer the suspect cases to quarantine place within airport premises for the necessary screening and testing.
In case of negative test results, the passenger will be advised for home quarantine for 14-days along with the guidelines to follow. However, in case of positive test results for COVID-19, the passenger will be transferred to nearby Isolation Ward established by Sindh health department.
It was stated that Sindh government is ready to support by all means for the containment of transmission of highly infective virus of COVID-19. An urgent and prompt action in requested in the emergency of COVID-19.