DDHO confirms 26 Coronavirus patients, 8 recover

F.P. Report

TIMERGARA: Deputy District Health Officer and focal person, Dr Irshad Ali said on Friday that so far, out of 246, test results of 170 suspected patients have been received which confirmed 26 as positive cases of coronavirus. In a media statement, he further informed that test results of 145 were received as negative while results of 75 suspected patients were yet to be received.

The test results, received during last 24 hours confirmed 3 more positive cases of coronavirus in the district. The patients, he said belonged to Zimdara? Ouch and Khaal. All these patients were the close relatives of already confirmed coronavirus patients. The number of patients recovered from coronavirus stood at 08. He urged upon people to strictly follow the code of social distance and try best to stay at home for their own and family’s protection.

Meanwhile, in its first direct medical response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, the Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors without Borders, has started emergency activities in the District Headquarter (DHQ) hospital Timergara in Lower Dir district from April, 3. The international medical organization has put a screening system in place in the hospital. This triage system works 24 hours a day screening about 1,000 people coming to the DHQ hospital every day either for medical care or as caretakers of the patients. The MSF teams have so far screened around 8,000 people for symptoms of COVID-19.

The MSF project coordinator in Lower Dir Yves Spielmann while briefing local journalists here on Tuesday said the COVID-19 response was part of its longstanding commitment to supporting the authorities in Pakistan in responding to emergencies. He said the organization had also prepared consultation rooms for the suspected patients, who were screened at three different levels by the medical staff before a confirmatory test for the COVID-19.

A 15-bed ward is also prepared for those who are suspected and confirmed patients of the COVID-19 virus, and need non-critical medical attention. There were 16 admissions to the isolation ward and 04 referrals to Peshawar for intensive care. One patient fully recovered from the virus and discharged from the hospital. Yves Spielmann said the MSF as a medical organization was concerned about mentions of names and other confidential information of the patients in public during the ongoing COVID-19 emergency. “We call on all the health and civilian actors to make sure that patient confidentiality is maintained. The people and the communities affected by this disease must not be stigmatized or discriminated,” he said.