ISLAMABAD: Five more educational institutions were on Friday sealed in the capital after detection of two Covid-19 positive cases in each of the institutes.

Officials of the capital administration said the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination had ordered immediate sealing of two colleges and three schools for a period as deemed fit by the competent authority. Disinfection of the buildings and Covid-19 testing of all the exposed staff/students were also ordered.

Moreover, all close contacts of the positive patients should be quarantined for a period of 14 days.

In response, the capital administration issued directives to seal the institutes. The buildings were later vacated and sealed by the police.

Students, staff of institutions advised to quarantine for two weeks

The two colleges are located at H-8/1 and H-8/2 while the schools are at G-6/1-3, G-11, 4 and I-9/3.

The virus was detected among people in the institutions during random testing, the officials said, adding details of the confirmed cases were collected and the District Health Office started a process to get details of their contacts and other exposed staff and students.

The confirmed patients were asked to remain on isolation at their houses. Besides, all students and staff of the institutions were advised to remain on quarantine for two weeks.

Meanwhile, four people died of Covid-19 in the capital during the last two days. Three deaths were reported on Thursday and two on Friday.

The number of positive cases on Friday increased to 113 from 73 on Thursday. On July 15, as many as 113 confirmed cases were reported and since then number had remained under 100.

The officials said 14 of the latest cases were reported from I-9 followed by nine from D-12, eight from I-8, five each from Chatha Bakhtawar, DHA, G-9, F-6, Bhara Kahu, four each from PWD, Ghouri Town, G-6, G-11, F-7, three each from Bahria Town, Sihala, I-10, H-8, G-10, Shahzad Town, two each from CBR Town, Pims Colony, G-7, Blue Area, E-11, Margalla Town, and one each from Jinnah Garden, Golra, G-13, B-17, F-8, F-11 and E-9.

Rawalpindi

The number of Covid-19 patients is increasing in the district as on Friday 34 patients tested positive. Moreover, 26 confirmed patients were discharged from hospitals.

Officials said 7,156 people contracted the virus in the district in the last six months while 292 people died and 6,695 others were discharged after recovery from the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU).

As many as 312 patients are waiting for their test results while 169 confirmed patients are under treatment, including 22 at the RIU.

The officials said 147 patients chose to remain on isolation in their homes. However, health department officials visit and check these patients in selective areas.

The local administrations also claimed that 568 people were on quarantine.

According to data for the Rawalpindi division, 8,583 people tested positive since March - 7,156 in Rawalpindi, 633 in Attock, 496 in Jhelum and 298 in Chakwal.

Moreover, 8,034 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery – 6,695 in Rawalpindi, 605 in Attock, 482 in Jhelum and 252 in Chakwal.

Besides, 292 people died of the virus in Rawalpindi, 20 in Attock, nine in Jhelum and 39 in Chakwal.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2020