Islamabad: After two cases of coronavirus were reported from Pakistan late Wednesday, there is a general feeling of fear and anxiety among the people, particularly the residents of Karachi and Islamabad, where the two confirmed patients are being treated in ‘isolation wards’.
The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Islamabad on Thursday admitted four suspected cases and, according to the spokesperson of the hospital Dr Wasim Khwaja, their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) for further verification.
About the one already admitted in the isolation ward of Pims, Dr Khwaja said he was being treated according to the protocol and his condition was improving.
Those admitted are between 30 and 60 years of age. Doctors, paramedical staff and patients at Pims, he said, were scared.
Sindh constitutes ‘task force’
Meanwhile, two suspected patients of coronavirus were reported in Karachi and the Secretary of Health, while briefing a high level meeting of the provincial government, told tests were conducted and reports will arrive within six hours.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has constituted a Task Force, which he will be heading, to deal with the virus and an emergency unit has been set up at the Health Ministry. The provincial government has also set up isolation wards in various hospitals of the city.
Schools, colleges and universities have been closed in Sindh and Balochistan to prevent the virus from spreading, and to ensure children don’t interact with one another on larger scale.
Respiratory masks disappear from pharmacies
Immediately after the confirmation of the two cases in Karachi and Islamabad, a huge demand was seen for respiratory masks. Residents rushed to pharmacies and medical stores, but many could not find any. A majority of the pharmacies have run out of stock. Those lucky enough to get these masks have had to pay a premium to purchase it.
This is adding to residents’ worries and in return they are venting their anger on social media, urging the government to take action against hoarders and pharmacists who have either removed masks from their shelves or are selling them at prices many times higher.
People in Islamabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi are also facing the same situation and pharmacies are selling them masks at high prices.
A resident of Karachi while criticising the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), police and other law-enforcement agencies revealed on social media that he had to go around the entire city to find masks, and could only find two boxes of respiratory masks.
While complaining on twitter, the man can be seen protesting that the box of 20 masks sold earlier for Rs180 (Dh4.29) is being sold for Rs1700 (Dh40.55).
While talking to Gulf News, a resident of Islamabad, Shehryar Khan, said he was forced to get a mask for Rs80 though it earlier sold for Rs10. “This is happening in Islamabad and you can very well imagine what will be the condition in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi and Multan,” he said.
