MAZAR-E-SHARIF (SW) – Authorities in Balkh have warned of locking down the province if number of coronavirus cases kept going up.
Mohammad Fahem Sharifyar, director viral disease control in the province, has said serious measures have been put in place in the wake of the novel coronavirus also known as COVID-19. He added efforts have been expedited for the construction of a 300-bed hospital here.
He hailed the local civil society members for striving to spread awareness.
Till Thursday afternoon, up to 80 positive cases of the COVID-19 were confirmed by the Ministry of Public Health with three deaths.
Deputy health minister, Fida Mohammad Paika, told a press conference in Kabul that the virus has entered the epidemic phase with local transmission. He said out of 80 cases, 28 were local transmission. He thanked residents in Herat, Nimroz and Farah for following lockdown rules in their respective provinces, which are at high risk due to proximity with Iran.
He also advises residents in Kabul to adopt social distancing, and avoid coming out of home until very necessary.
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