Pakistani pilgrims to return from Iran soon.

ISLAMABAD -- Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Friday said that the government will gradually allow Pakistani zaireens [pilgrims] returning from Iran in batches after a full health screening. The decision was made after reviewing the situation at the Taftan-Zahedan border, he said, adding the point of entry was being strengthened. Pakistan had closed the border with Iran and also suspended flights after Iran had reported dozens of cases of the virus. On Wednesday, Pakistan recorded its first two cases of coronavirus, with one each being in Karachi and Islamabad.

The patients had returned recently from Iran. Dr Mirza said that the two patients were stable and their condition was improving. 'Contacts traced until now and tested are all negative,' he added. Separately, the Sindh health department cleared the family of Pakistan's first confirmed coronavirus patient after screening. The 22-year-old had arrived in Karachi on February 20, indicating that there were chances that the thermal screening machines at the airports for those entering the country may not have worked after all. The machines are supposed to immediately detect higherthan-usual body temperature. Separately, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed Dr Mirza and Zulfi Bukhari, special assistant to the prime minister on Overseas Pakistanis, to meet parents of the students stuck in China due to coronavirus outbreak. Hearing the case pertaining to the return of the students quarantined in China, IHC Chief Justice...

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