Panic over Covid-19 deaths in Mingora family.

Byline: Fazal Khaliq

MINGORA -- Panic has spread among the residents of Zamarud Kan area here over the death of three members of a local family by novel coronavirus.

The people told Dawn that a 40-year-old resident died six days ago with his family members attributing the death to a heart attack.

They added that they later learned that the deceased had coronavirus symptoms and the National Institute of Health declared a confirmed Covid-19 case. The people said the deceased's mother and father, too, tested positive for the virus later and that the two breathed their last within three days. They said the locals along with relatives attended the funeral prayers of the deceased in large numbers.

When contacted, district health officer Dr Mohammad Ikram Shah confirmed the three coronavirus deaths and said the six members of that Zamarud Kan area family were diagnosed with the virus.

'Health officials are on the spot collecting more samples from the deceased's family members and other close contacts,' he said.

The DHO said the entire area had been sealed and declared a quarantine facility, while samples were being collected from the suspected cases. However, the deceased's family continues to deny that the deaths were caused by Covid-19. It claims that the three members, who passed away lately, didn't have virus symptoms.

'My brother was...