Interview with the Health Minister, Dr. Yasmin Rashid

Objective: Keeping the current surge of COVID-19 in Pakistan, plan an interview with Provincial Health Minister Punjab to ask about the future plans of the government. Draft ten open ended questions for this interview assignment.

Interviewee: Dr Yasmin Rashid, Provincial Health Minister of Punjab

Interviewer: Ahmed Saeed

Questions for the Interview:

Q1. Minister, what is the total number of coronavirus cases has been tested in Pakistan? And how many are positive so far?

Q2. How many isolation centres are there in Punjab and what steps are being taken when a patient tests positive?

Q3. The people from slums and small areas in the province are not aware of the virus and are not taking it seriously. So, do you think that people from these areas are being reported in the centres?

Q4. Minister, can I ask, are there any plans to review the 14-day isolation period and potentially cut that time frame down?

Q5. There have been a lot of cases reported in Punjab. So, how many are recovering? And there have been that have recovered and have been re affected again?

Q6. According to some recent studies, some countries state that it is not necessary to wear masks and gloves if you maintain social distancing. So do you really think they are directing the people right?

Q7. Given the advanced resources and medical facilities the developed countries have, they are still not able to cut down the number of infected people. So do you think our medical team is any better and able to help in this crisis?

Q8. Initially there was more number of cases in the province of Sindh than those in Punjab. So what do you think has been the major reason for such a large number of positive cases in Punjab and why has the government failed to flatten the curve until now?

Q9. The number of coronavirus cases has been increasing very quickly and there is no stopping to it. Do you think since the lockdown, the ratio of reporting cases has been reduced?

Q10. Adding to it, since the number of cases has not decreased even after imposing the lockdown, so do you think shutting down everything is the solution?