Kabul: Health officials in northern Faryab said that they held talks with the Taliban to coordinate efforts regarding fighting the pandemic coronavirus in the areas under the militant’s control.

Head of provincial public health, Mohammad Naim Mosmim said that the militants have pledged to avoid wedding ceremonies and as well as massive gatherings in funerals. The wedding halls and other public institutions would be closed, he added.

Mosmim said that health officials have so far held two rounds of talks with the militants, where he himself was also presented.

A joint medical team has been appointed in cooperation with the insurgents to inform the people about the symptoms and spread of the coronavirus in 14 districts of the province, he said.

The people who have returned from Iran would be quarantined, as over 20,000 Faryab residents, who had been refugees in Iran, had returned home after the pandemic virus has inflicted heavy harms to Iran. “98 percent of them (returned refuges) are living in the areas under the Taliban control.”

Provincial Governor Naqibullah Fayiq in a tweet has praised the health officials’ attempt of combating the virus but called on the Taliban to halt violence if they really want to fight the spread of covid19 in the province. “Fighting against coronavirus is a mistaken until war waging on.”

At least four positive covid19 cases have been registered in Faryab, according to health officials. One of the patients has recovered and discharge from hospital.

Afghanistan has recorded 784 positive covid19 cases with 40 recoveries and 23 deaths.

http://www.afghanistantimes.af/taliban-joins-hands-with-govt-in-response-to-coronavirus/