US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice Wells on Tuesday has expressed her condolences at the passing of Pakistani hero Dr Usama Riaz, who lost his life while treating coronavirus patients in Gilgit-Baltistan.

In a statement, Wells paid tribute to all the courageous and determined medical workers across South and Central Asia who are risking their lives to help the sick and keep everyone safe.

We salute all the brave medical workers across South and Central Asia who are risking their lives to help the sick and keep us safe. Saddened to hear of the death of Dr. Usama Riaz, who was on the frontlines of the fight against #COVID19 in Pakistan. The U.S. stands with you. AGW

— State_SCA (@State_SCA) March 23, 2020

“Saddened to hear of the death of Dr Usama Riaz, who was on the frontlines of the fight against coronavirus in Pakistan. The US stands with you,” she said.

A young physician, Pakistani hero Dr Osama Riaz, became the first Pakistani doctor who died of coronavirus which he had contracted while physically handling suspected COVID-19 patients returning to Gilgit-Baltistan from overseas and other parts of the country.

Dr Riaz part of 10-member team of the doctors tasked with screening patients returning from other areas, particularly those arriving there from Iran via Taftan.

He later started providing services to suspected patients in isolation centers established for them in Gilgit.

“It is with extreme sadness that the Gilgit-Baltistan health department confirms that Usama Riaz who played a key role in the war against coronavirus has passed away,” the GB government’s information department tweeted.

His colleagues said that Dr Riaz ignored his health and served the patients till late night as the patients had never provided any services before.

According to officials in Gilgit, they repeated his swab test and again he tested positive for coronavirus.