ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday constituted a technical core committee to regularly monitor the situation and make immediate plans to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus.

According to an official of the Health Ministry, National Institute of Health has also activated its Emergency Operations Center to monitor the international dynamics of disease. It has also been directed for a close coordination among Central Health Establishment, World Health Organization and provincial health departments for national prevention and control.

The official said directives have also been issued to NIH’s virology lab to develop a real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction capacity for coronavirus as early as possible.

Also Read: National Institute of Health issues advisory on Pneumonia outbreak due to novel coronavirus in China

NIH has already developed health education and information material for healthcare staff, passengers and general public in this regard.

As the death toll of coronavirus increases in China, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Jan 27 ordered authorities to take the requisite precautionary measures and devise a comprehensive strategy to counter the danger of the deadly disease entering Pakistan.

In a letter sent to related ministries and divisions, the PM Office had said that due to the huge number of Chinese citizens in Pakistan and people who frequently travelled between the two countries, the spread of the virus “could not be ruled out.”

“In light of the above, the Prime Minister has desired for immediately convening a high level inter-ministerial meeting under the chairmanship of Special Assistant to the PM on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to formulate a comprehensive strategy for tackling the threat,” the PM Office stated in the letter.