KABUL (Pajhwok): President Ashraf Ghani has ordered preparations for dealing with any emergency situation, hinting at changes in the budget in case of need.

All available resources would be used to battle the coronavirus, he said at a video conference on the government’s response to the virus spread in Herat province.

Both vice-presidents, the president’s special advisor on trade affairs, the national security, Herat officials, civil society activists and media representatives attended Thursday’s conference.

Herat Governor Abdul Qayyum Rahimi and provincial council members shared with the president their strategies for containing the COVID-19.

In a statement from Ghani’s office, the officials said a team of experts from Kabul had arrived in Herat, where work is ongoing on a 100-bed hospital.

Ghani said he would take stock of the coronavirus situation in every two days through video conferences with provincial officials.

With regard to a proposal from Chinese advisors to quarantine Herat, the president suggested a comprehensive national debate on the topic.

“The entire national budget will be amended in case the coronavirus pandemic spread. The budget will be sent back to the parliament,” the president said.

Ghani directed the relevant organs to get prepared for a possible emergency situation. He assured the authorities concerned of stout support from the government.

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