Dr. Zafar Mirza said he was experiencing “mild symptoms” and was taking all precautions.
Islamabad:
Pakistan’s Minister of Health, Dr. Zafar Mirza, said on Monday that he had tested positive for the new coronavirus, becoming the country’s last minister to be affected by the deadly virus.
Dr. Mirza, the Prime Minister’s special assistant for health services, said he had “mild symptoms” and was taking all precautions.
“I tested positive for COVID-19. Under the advice of a doctor, I isolated myself at home and I took all precautions. I have mild symptoms. Please keep me in your kind prayers “tweeted Dr. Mirza.
He urged his colleagues to continue the good work. “You (colleague) are making a big difference and I am proud of you,” he said.
Dr. Mirza has been at the forefront of the government’s response to the pandemic and has informed the media daily of the situation.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Friday that he had tested positive for coronavirus disease and had quarantined himself.
Mr. Qureshi is the vice president of the Pakistani government Tehreek-e-Insaf and considered the number two in government after Prime Minister Imran Khan
Several Pakistani legislators have contracted the deadly virus and some of them have also died.
The main political leaders who have contracted the virus so far include the President of the National Assembly, Asad Qaiser, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif, the governor of Sindh Imran Ismail, the head of the PPP Saeed Ghani and Minister of Railways Sheikh Rashid, who have all recovered.
Former Baluchistan governor Syed Fazal Agha, PTI legislator Punjab Shaheen Raza, Sindh Minister for Human Settlements Ghulam Murtaza Baloch, legislator Munir Khan Orakzai and Mian Jamshedud Din Kakakhel of the PTI died after contracting the virus .
The coronavirus count in Pakistan has crossed the 231,000 mark with 4,762 deaths.
