RAWALPINDI: Most of the people infected by the novel coronavirus so far in Rawalpindi district are aged below 40 years.

According to a district analysis report submitted to Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood, 1,169 people, including 469 women, in the age group of 11 to 40 years contracted the virus.

In the age group of 41 years to 50, there were 407 patients, including 145 women. The number of infected people in the age bracket of 51 and above was 747, which included 272 women.

The report said 109 of the patients died of the disease in about two-and-a-half months.

As many as 83, including 16 women, were aged over 50 years, 15 in the age group of 41 to 50 years and 11 were in the age group of 11 to 40 years. No child or infant was among the casualties.

Says patients in age group of 11 to 40 years recovered early

The recovery rate among young people was encouraging as 601 patients, including 241 women, who got cured fell in the age bracket of 11 to 40 years.

However, the recovery rate among patients aged over 51 years was increasing as 315 patients recovered in this group compared to 188 in the age group of 40 to 50 years.

Meanwhile, after a week’s break, the number of Covid-19 patients increased in Rawalpindi as the district reported 131 positive cases on Sunday.

All markets and bazaars were closed but some shopkeepers opened their outlets.

However, the district administration sealed 42 shops in Raja Bazaar and adjoining markets and imposed Rs117,000 fine on the shop owners.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that the number of patients would reduce if citizens adopted safety measures advised by health experts.

“The government issued SOPs for markets and workplaces to protect the citizens from the virus,” he said.

Mr Mehmood said there was a dire need to disinfect areas from where patients were brought to hospitals in large numbers.

He said special instructions were given to the civic bodies to launch a massive campaign in sealed streets and areas around the affected people’s houses.

He said violations of SOPs in Rawalpindi division would not be tolerated and in this regard 42 shops were sealed on Sunday in Rawalpindi district, 28 shops in Attock, 13 in Jhelum and 54 in Chakwal.

He said Rs424,000 fine was imposed in four districts of the division.

On the other hand, one patient died while 58 people were discharged after recovering on Sunday.

The deceased was 39 years old and was a resident of Gulraiz Housing Scheme.

He was admitted to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) on June 6 where he died Sunday morning.

The number of confirmed patients in Rawalpindi district has reached 2,891 while 109 died and 1,494 have been discharged.

At present, 1,288 confirmed patients from Gujar Khan, Taxila, Murree, Kotli Sattian, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta are under treatment. As many as 899 patients are isolated in their houses.

Apart from this, 1,274 suspected patients were admitted to four hospitals and their samples have been sent to laboratories but the results are awaited.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2020