ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is going to increase its coronavirus testing capacity from 800 to 25,000 tests a day by the end of April, the National Coordination Committee (NCC) announced on Monday.
“We are diligently working on testing, tracing and quarantine model to contain further spread of the virus,” Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said while briefing reporters after the NCC’s meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The NCC is an apex decision making body on coronavirus response, with representation from civil and military leadership.
The government has also launched a pilot project for Islamabad and four other districts, Umar said, to trace, track and quarantine persons suspected of having contracted the virus. “We are doing our best with the help of a professional team to overcome the challenge,” he said.
He said the reopening of business activity in the country will be decided in a meeting on Tuesday in consultation with provincial administrations. He added that industrialists will have to take care of their workers in accordance with government guidelines, if they are allowed to resume operations.
As of Monday, there were 5,374 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 93 related deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Zafar Mirza, the prime minister’s special assistant on public health, revealed after the NCC’s meeting that local transmission of the virus had reached 52 percent, which demanded an immediate action to contain the outbreak.
He added that Pakistan was working on production of N95 face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE), which should become available within a few weeks.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior decided on Monday to extend for another two weeks the closure of the country’s eastern border — with India — and western borders — with Iran and Afghanistan.
