ISLAMABAD: Covid-19 appears to be spreading among younger residents of the capital, with 30-39 year olds becoming the third most vulnerable age groups, according to data collected by the capital administration.

The data states that 45 people between the ages of 30 and 39 have tested positive, while 27 patients are between the ages of 40 and 49, 24 are between the ages of 20 and 29 and 22 are between the ages of 50 and 59. There are 17 patients each from the 10-19 and 60-69 age brackets, eight each from the 0-9 and 70-79 age brackets, two aged 90 and above and one from the 80 to 89 age group.

The total number of cases in Islamabad reached 181 after 10 more were reported on Monday, officials told Dawn. Two patients have died and 20 have recovered so far. There are currently 159 active cases of Covid-19 in the capital.

Data from capital administration suggests coronavirus spreading among younger residents; 36 out of 62 areas have reported positive cases

The data also revealed that cases have been reported from 36 out of the capital’s 62 areas. Of the 18 cases reported over the past 48 hours, officials said, three each came from I-10 and Tarlai and one from I-8.

The administration has divided the capital into 62 areas, 37 of which are urban and 24 are rural. Positive cases have been reported in 22 urban areas and 13 rural areas.

Bhara Kahu still has the highest number of cases at 27, of which 11 have recovered, while Tarlai has reported 25, I-10 and Lohi Bher have reported 14 cases each and one person in Lohi Bher has recovered. G-8 and G-10 have nine active cases each and Shahzad Town has seven.

The data compiled by the administration till April 19 revealed that out of the total 171 positive cases 13 positive cases are kept at Pims, three of them are critical and two are on ventilators. Three patients are at the Federal Government Services Hospital and are stable.

There are also 14 patients isolated at the quarantine facility set up in the OGDCL Hostel in I-9 and two at Hotel Ballagio. The remaining patients have been isolated at home.

There are 1,324 suspected patients in Islamabad, while 3,686 people have tested negative for Covid-19 between March 3 and April 19.

The Covid-19 fatality rate in Islamabad has increased to 0.012 from 0.007 between April 16 and 19. The number of female patients has increased from 26pc to 29pc, while the number of male patients has decreased from 74pc to 71pc.

The attack rate per 10,000 people in the 30-39 age group has increased to 1.9pc from 1.55pc, with 44 patients in that age bracket. In the 50-59 age group and the 60-69 age group, the attack rate has increased from 1.85pc to 1.94pc and 1.5pc to 1.87pc, respectively.

The attack rate in the 20-29 age group increased to 0.68pc from 0.65pc, while the rate in the 10-19 bracket increased 0.36pc from 0.34pc and in the 0-9 age group rose to 0.15pc from 0.13pc. The attack rate among people aged 70 to 79 and those above 80 has not changed.

The overall attack rate of the coronavirus per 10,000 people has increased from 0.72pc to 0.81pc.

Administration officials told Dawn that the number of patients is rising because people have started leaving their homes since the ban was lifted on several business activities.

They said people are no longer taking the situation as seriously and the element of fear among them has fallen.

They added that the virus has already affected residents of the capital and is now spreading by local transmission. In the last few days, people have failed to continue social distancing and have been observed at markets and other public places, including the Margalla Hills hiking track.

They said 50 cases have been reported between April 15 and April 20, while 39 cases were reported between April 9 and April 12 and no cases were reported on April 14.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2020