Chinese belt and road workers could spread coronavirus, Pakistanis fear
- Pakistan has put hospitals and clinics on alert after a report that the Wuhan coronavirus can be transmitted between people
- The move comes amid fears that the thousands of workers who regularly travel between the countries could spread the disease
A letter issued by Pakistan’s health ministry on Wednesday said that following a report by the China National Health Commission that the virus could be transmitted between people, it was directing the Disease Surveillance Division and Central Health Establishment to “monitor, direct and exercise the highest level of vigilance”.
The virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has already killed 17 people in China and infected more than 541 and reports of it spreading to other Asian countries have also begun to emerge.
Doctor Allah Bakhsh Malik, the Federal Secretary Ministry of the National Health Services Regulations and Coordination department, said Pakistan was prepared to deal with the virus if needed.
“Hospitals and other departments have been put on standby to deal with the coronavirus. So far, not a single case has been detected in Pakistan,” he said.
Documents seen by the South China Morning Post suggest that before 2013 there were 20,000 Chinese expatriates living in Pakistan, but that figure had risen to 60,000 by 2018 in large part due to the economic corridor project. More than 400 Chinese companies are currently involved in projects in Pakistan.
