SitRep

SITUATION REPORT 17th March 2020

COVID-19 Pakistan Updates Director-General WHO has characterized COVID-19 outbreak a Global Pandemic

Country Outlook Total Confirmed Deaths Recovered

193 00 04

Lab Updates (16th March) Federal level / ICT Total Tested Confirm Sindh Total Tested Confirm Punjab Total Tested Confirm Balochistan Total Tested Confirm Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Total Tested Confirm Gilgit Baltistan Total Tested Confirm AJ&K Total Tested Confirm

147 02 502 155 177 08 110 08 65 15

Highlights •

45 05 11 00

University (KMU) and was shown the Public Health Reference Lab (PHRL) in the university to assess the capacity for COVID-19 testing.

Point of Entries Screened at Airports: (Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi)

Total Screened: 955,722 Newly Screened: 20,088 Screened at Land Crossings Taftan Border: Closed Torkham Border: Closed

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The WHO-EMRO mission spent the day in the federal capital and visited National Institute of Health EOC, Directorate of Central Health Establishment, National Emergency Operation Center, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) isolation ward and Islamabad International Airport.

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The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan has risen to 193 as of 17th March. During the last 24 hours the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases have doubled as 99 new cases (76 Sindh, 15 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 7 Punjab) have been in Pakistan. Out of the total confirmed cases 04 have fully recovered and discharged while the remaining confirmed cases are stable.

Quarantine Facilities Taftan border: 2,799 PCSIR Quetta: 545 Sukkur Sindh 303 DG Khan Punjab: 777 DI Khan KP: 19

WHO Country Representative Pakistan Dr. Palitha Mahipala visited Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) in Peshawar. During the visit, the country representative visited the High Dependency Unit at the hospital. The WHO Country Representative Pakistan also visited the Isolation unit at Police and Services Hospital Peshawar. The objectives of the visit were to review and extend WHO’s support to the ongoing COVID-19 response. Lastly, Dr. Palitha Mahipala also met the Vice Chancellor Khyber Medical

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ICT

Sindh

Punjab

Balochistan

KPK

2

155

8

8

15

Gilgit Baltistan

05

AJ&K

0

The Gadap Isolation facility in Karachi is functional now and three COVID19 positive patients have been transferred to the facility

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Resources WHO Funding Status •

Funding Required for Health Response is US$ 11.3Million

Coordination • •

Funding required by WHO to support response US$ 5Million

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Funding mobilized US$ by WHO for the response US$ 110,000

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ECHO, DFID, Australian Embassy, World Bank and Japan Embassy have been requested to pledge funds

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• Urgent Needs •

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Support training, provision of surveillance tools, contact tracing, sentinel surveillance and training and formation of Rapid Response Teams Support national, provincial and mobile diagnostic laboratories with Viral Transport Medium, Nucleic Acid Extraction and PCR kits.

Support Infection Prevention and Control in all locations.

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Strengthening case management, quarantine and isolation facilities.

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Support community mobilization and awareness raising.

Punjab governments declared Islamic University Bahawalpur as the quarantine facility (it’s about 8 kilometers from the city and 01 kilometers away from the residential area). At this time, 1,434 Zairean have been transferred from the Taftan border Quarantine facility and will be accommodated in the University.

Pakistan Preparedness and Response

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A new quarantine facility with a capacity of 300-400 rooms is being established by the Government of Sindh along the Northern Bypass. Once it is established, the current quarantine facility at Dhumba Ghot will be converted to an isolation unit.

With the increasing number of cases in Sukkur, one block in the Sukkur quarantine facility has been designated as an isolation unit.

WHO assessed 37 isolation facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Findings of the assessment will be disseminated later. and is processing the results.

Pakistan has now confirmed 14 laboratories accredited for COVID-19 testing nation-wide.

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The Technical Working Groups (TWGs) in all provinces are conducting regular coordination meetings to coordinate response to the COVID-19.

Daily meetings of COVID-19 Task Force chaired by Chief Minister Sindh are being held at the Chief Minister Secretariat to closely monitor the emerging situation.

Chief Minister Sindh notified Ministers/advisors/MNAs/ MPAs in the respective districts to work with the Deputy Commissioners of their respective districts to furnish daily reports regarding COVID-19 preparedness and response.

WHO sub-office Punjab will be part of the technical committee notified for the operationalization of the quarantine facilities in all districts.

Chief Minister Balochistan along with Secretary Health inspected Fatimah Jinnah Chest and General Hospital designated for COVID -19 case management and it also houses the only Public Health Laboratory in Balochistan Additionally, Secretary Health along with his team undertook a mapping exercise of the existing available buildings which can be converted into quarantine facilities in Quetta, Balochistan.

Director General Health held a meeting with academia and medical superintendents of all the major hospitals in Balochistan to expedite the preparedness and response measures for COVID-19.

7 Isolation hospital established with 46 room while 96 isolation rooms established in other hospitals including CMHs and other private hospitals. Total 137 isolation room available in the Gilgit Baltistan.

Trainings/Capacity Building •

WHO PEI staff conducted infection prevention and control and psychosocial support training for the health staff deployed at Sukkur quarantine facility.

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Department of Health (DoH) and FELTP trained 22 doctors and paramedics staff on COVID-19 at Helper eye hospital, Quetta.

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45 doctors and paramedics staff have been trained on COVID-19 at Mufti Mehmood Hospital Kuchlock, Balochistan by Department of Health.

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A training of 43 doctors deployed in High Dependency Units of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was conducted on infection control, disinfection and decontamination for COVID-19 by DoH.

Risk communication and community engagement •

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has established a helpline number (1166), an online coronavirus platform and a

chatbot to respond to public concerns and clarifications for misinformation regarding COVID-19. WHO continues to support the helpline

WR Country Representative visit to Public Health Reference Lab, Khyber Medical University Peshawar

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A help line number (1700) for guidance and information to the general public regarding COVID-19 has been established in Peshawar.

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Health Department Balochistan operationalized a 24/7 functional control room for any kind of information and coordination regarding COVID-19 activities in Balochistan. The Helpline number is 081-9202080.

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PDMA will regularly disseminate the messages to the travelers for personal protection as well as identification of any symptoms related to COVID-19.

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Gilgit Baltistan, Legislative Assembly members, Bar Association, Council and religious leaders were briefed about the concept of social distancing(by using juma sermons to disseminate information)

Surveillance at Points-of-Entry (PoEs)

WR Country Representative visit to Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, Meeting with Hospital Director

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Currently, 2,931 travelers from Iran are quarantined at the Taftan border while 543 have been relocated from the Taftan border to the quarantine facility at Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Quetta.

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30 samples have been taken from suspects at PCSIR-Quetta and sent for further lab diagnosis.

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15 samples were collected from travelers using Taftan border at the Darazinda quarantine facility in DI Khan. The cases were declared as positive by the PHR Laboratory, Khyber Medical University Peshawar.

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Two new suspected cases of COVID-19 reported by the Police and Services Hospital in Peshawar. In response, standard protocols for isolation, case reporting, sample transport and case management were followed.

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In total, four new suspected cases were reported from Bacha Khan Medical Complex Swabi (01), DHO Office Abbottabad (01), DHQ Hospital Mardan (01) and DHO Office Charsadda (01). The cases were isolated, specimens were collected for further investigations and the necessary management is being offered.

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In Gilgit Baltistan, so far 401 Health Staff oriented on COVID-19 infection prevention and case detection by WHO

Contacts Dr Palitha Mahipala WHO Representative WHO Country Office Islamabad – Pakistan Tel: +92 51 9255183 Email: mahipalap@who.int Dr Michael Lukwiya Health Emergency Coordinator WHO Country Office Islamabad - Pakistan Tel: +92 51 9255184 Email: lukwiyam@who.int