As many as 105 Pakistanis who were stranded in United Arab Emirates (UAE) have tested positive for the fatal coronavirus after arriving in Pakistan. The infected patients were among 209 nationals who were brought home on an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi on April 28.
According to a news report published in DAWN, Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Capt (R) Anwarul Haq has confirmed the development and said that the travellers were initially moved to the quarantine facility before testing at the Fatima Jinnah Women University.
“The corona positive patients are shifted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), while 79 others who tested negative are allowed to go home with directions to self-isolate. The tests of 27 passengers are being conducted again to verify their status,” the DC said.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf said the matter has been taken up with UAE authorities.
More than 760 passengers, who returned from the UAE, Qatar, New York and Colombo on April 28 and April 29, had been quarantined to complete their incubation period before undergoing the testing process. The government has been running a repatriation operation through the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other airlines to bring home Pakistanis stranded in other countries.
Last week, 259 passengers who were among the 3,554 Pakistanis who came back to Punjab by 22 special flights from various countries during the last two weeks tested positive for the coronavirus.
According to a news report published in DAWN, Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Capt (R) Anwarul Haq has confirmed the development and said that the travellers were initially moved to the quarantine facility before testing at the Fatima Jinnah Women University.
“The corona positive patients are shifted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), while 79 others who tested negative are allowed to go home with directions to self-isolate. The tests of 27 passengers are being conducted again to verify their status,” the DC said.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf said the matter has been taken up with UAE authorities.
More than 760 passengers, who returned from the UAE, Qatar, New York and Colombo on April 28 and April 29, had been quarantined to complete their incubation period before undergoing the testing process. The government has been running a repatriation operation through the national carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other airlines to bring home Pakistanis stranded in other countries.
Last week, 259 passengers who were among the 3,554 Pakistanis who came back to Punjab by 22 special flights from various countries during the last two weeks tested positive for the coronavirus.