A new strategy was introduced by the federal government in order to classify asymptomatic passagers with COVID-19, the novel coronavirus-like enigmatic viral pneumonia.
Scientists reported that patients begin to experience coronavirus symptoms on average after five days of virus contraction. Anyone who does not have any symptoms by day 12 may not develop symptoms, but according to recent research they may still be infectious carriers.
The researchers warn suspect patients not to spread it to others for 14 days.
Under the new plan, health forms received from travelers at the airports would be handed over to the departments of health and surveillance. The concerned department would then be able to contact the returning travelers in their respective cities and conduct the “follow-up medical examination”.
This would enable the authorities to identify the coronavirus patients, who appeared healthy at the time of medical examination at airports.
The government has recently accepted Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah’s proposal of making it mandatory for all international passengers to declare their travel history of the last 14 days, in order to maintain their record for necessary screening at airports.
The new strategy has been implemented by the Central Health Establishment (CHE) on the directives of Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Health Dr Zafar Mirza.
The travel data of inbound passengers includes addresses and telephone numbers. On complaints of flu and fever, passenger and their friends and family members and those who came in close contact with the passenger will also be examined.
