TAXILA: Covid-19 cases surged in Attock district, with13more patients reported on Thursday.

According to data updated by the district administration, the number of Covid-19 patients in the district has now reached 83. All of the new cases are of local transmission, as are 98pc of the cases overall.

The district focal person for Covid-19, Dr Asif Arbab Niazi, confirmed that this was the highest single-day rise in cases since the district’s first, reported on March 25.

He said Hassanabdal also saw its highest increase, with five patients reported in a day. All the cases were reported in the Bhalr Joggi union council.

He said all five of the patients are being treated at the Hassanabdal Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, and three are from the same family.

Two people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in Ikhlas village, Pindigheb tehsil. Both of them were tested after they were in contact with a previous patient; the health department has sealed the street where the patients live and public movement in the area is prohibited.

Four people were diagnosed in Malikmala village in Hazro tehsil as well. They were all contacts of a previous patient. According to Dr Niazi, 19 close contacts of the patient were tested, of which four were positive.

He said the new patients included the previous patient’s mother, brother and two of his friends. They have all been moved to a local quarantine facility, and the street where they lived is locked down by police and municipal committee officials.

He said the coronavirus prevention taskforce has also sprayed disinfectant in the area and the samples of other relatives and close contacts of the new patients have been collected and sent for testing.

Another patient from Kamra Cantt has also been admitted to the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Hospital in Kamra.

Dr Niazi said there has been a surge in Covid-19 cases in the district in the last 24 hours. Local transmission and people-to-people infections have risen alarmingly despite the administration and health authorities’ efforts to contain the coronavirus, he said.

He added that around 40 patients, some of whom are members of the Tableeghi Jamaat and pilgrims who returned from Iran, have recovered so far.

Executive District Officer Health Dr Sohail Ijaz told Dawn that the health department has an adequate stock of personal protective equipment and facilities for patients, doctors and paramedical staff.

Taxila

Nine people were diagnosed with Covid-19 in Taxila on Thursday, taking the tally to 65.

This is the highest one-day rise in cases in Taxila since the first case was reported there on March 23.

Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Faheem told Dawn that two of the nine patients are minors. Five are isolated at home, one has been admitted to the Benazir Bhutto Hospital in Rawalpindi and one is in the THQ Hospital; another two are in private hospitals.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2020