Beef up COVID-19 checks in ICT: SAPM/MoS Akbar

ISLAMABAD: The special assistant to prime minister (SAPM)/minister of state (MoS) Shahzad Akbar, chaired a meeting of stakeholders to review the decisions taken in the meeting a day earlier, to control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), on Thursday.

According to an official statement, SAPM/MoS Akbar briefed the participants about the requirements of the federal capital to beef up efforts to check the spread of COVID-19.

In the light of discussion and deliberation, he gave directions to health secretary, for implementation in close-coordination with ICT authorities, to arrange 50 additional dedicated beds, in proper isolation wards for suspected COVID-19 patients, within one week.

SAPM/MoS Akbar directed for the provision of ventilators and expert staff required for effective functioning of ventilators, the provision of 12 additional ambulances for transportation of patients, employment of 15 additional rapid response teams (RRT) for surveillance, spotting and transportation of suspected COVID-19 patients.

He further directed for the availability of doctors, paramedics and requisite equipments at the three newly established “quarantine centres” at Hotel Redison in Blue Area, Hotel de Papáe in Blue Area and Hill View Hotel in Jinnah Super (F-7 Markaz).

Interior ministry secretary, health ministry secretary, interior ministry additional secretary-II, ICT chief commissioner, ICT deputy commissioner and ICT deputy inspector general (DIG) operations attended the meeting.