Coronavirus precautions: Qureshi to self-isolate for five days after China visit

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday said he will self-isolate for five days after his recent visit to China as a precautionary measure to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

“Before leaving for China, we had a swab test done, which came back negative,” Qureshi told Geo Pakistan.

“When we reached China, a blood and swab test was done again, which also came back negative and only after that we had our meetings. Before leaving, another blood test was conducted, whose result will be issued today,” Qureshi said.

The foreign minister added that as a precautionary measure, he has also decided to go into self-isolation for five days.

“After five days, I will get another swab test done and if that also comes back negative, I will go out and interact with people. This is what the experts have suggested and I intend to do so to set an example for others,” he added.

It was not immediately clear whether other members of the Pakistani delegation, including President Arif Alvi, would also observe such measures.

The foreign minister said China has decided to provide Pakistan with testing kits, protective gear and portable ventilators as the country tries to grapple with the coronavirus outbreak.

Read also: China to provide testing kits, ventilators to deal with coronavirus outbreak: FM Qureshi

“China has decided it will provide us with a cash grant to set up a state-of-the-art isolation centre to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the country,” Qureshi said.

“They are ready to help us and have even offered to share their medical expertise to combat the spread,” Qureshi said.

The foreign minister added that one of the main reasons for their visit was to show solidarity with China as the country started returning to normal after the pandemic.

“You cannot imagine the impact of our gesture,” said Qureshi. “The entire Chinese leadership appreciated our efforts, especially our move not to evacuate our students, residents from the country when every other country was.”

“They told us we were the first delegation to visit us since the virus broke out, which re-affirmed our ‘iron brother’ tag,” he added.