Only 30pc people wear face masks, says MoPH

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on Thursday expressed concern over the surge in coronavirus cases and asked people to follow health guidelines and wear face masks.

Dr. Akmal Samsour, MoPH spokesperson, said positive cases of coronavirus were on the rise compared to past weeks.

He said 70 people died from coronavirus in the 46^th week, the year’s last week, while 43 people died from the pandemic during 45^th week.

According to Samsour, coronavirus patients are increasing in hospitals. “Majority of beds in the coronavirus hospitals in provinces and Kabul have been occupied by coronavirus patients,” he said.

He talked about the lack of attention by people to wearing masks and added “reports suggest that 30 percent of the population use masks,” he said.

If the current situation on coronavirus persisted and people remained reckless to coronavirus, the number of deaths may reach 6,200 until March, he said.

He said 1,278 suspected patients who were referred to private and state-run labs, 226 people tested positive.

Dr. Samsour asked people to show their individual and social responsibility and implement health guidelines to save lives.

nh/ma