–69-year-old patient is a resident of Karachi and had returned from Iran on Feb 25

–PM’s aide says 760,000 people entering Pakistan screened for coronavirus

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The Sindh health department on Thursday reported the country’s sixth case of novel coronavirus in Karachi.

The patient was identified as a 69-year-old male residing in the city’s District East.

Taking notice of the case, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed officials to trace and test all those who have been in contact with the patient.

“The patient had returned from Iran on February 25. The health department was already monitoring the situation, so when he started showing symptoms, officials took his samples and sent them for testing.

“The patient is currently in isolation at a hospital, while his family members have been quarantined for the time being,” said a health official, adding that there are now three confirmed cases of coronavirus in Sindh.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza had confirmed Pakistan’s first two cases of coronavirus on February 26, from Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

Three days later, the PM’s aide had confirmed two more cases of the virus, once again from Karachi and GB.

On March 3, Pakistan’s fifth case had emerged in a woman from GB.

Meanwhile, chairing a meeting of the Coronavirus Emergency Core Group in Islamabad on Thursday, Dr Zafar Mirza said that the government has screened more than 760,000 people, who were entering the country, for the novel coronavirus.

He reassured that every possible step is being taken to cope with the outbreak.

“The federal and provincial governments, as well as other institutions, are fully ready to meet the challenge and protect the people from the virus,” he said.

In addition, separate rooms are being allocated at hospitals to combat COVID-19, he said.

More than 95,000 people have been infected and over 3,200 have died worldwide from the virus, which has now reached some 80 countries and territories.

Almost 300 million students worldwide faced weeks at home, with Italy the latest country to shut schools over the deadly new coronavirus, as the IMF urged an all-out, global offensive against the epidemic.