ISLAMABAD: The capital administration has sealed 10 streets in seven residential sectors after another 157 cases of Covid-19 were reported on Sunday.

“Every street that has been sealed has five or more cases of Covid-19. The decision has been made to keep the residents in isolation so that the spread of the virus can be stopped,” Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat told Dawn.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services, available with Dawn, Islamabad’s District Health Office teams have carried out Covid-19 surveillance activities in various streets in the city.

They observed that streets with a higher number of cases needed to be sealed.

Second wave of virus has already arrived in Islamabad, DC says

“In order to decrease further transmission of the infection in given areas. Timely and proper smart lockdown in these areas will help in cutting the chain of infection in Islamabad.

These streets are Street 46 of F-11/3, Street 23 of F-11/2, Street 58 of 1-8/2, Street 57 of I-8/3, Street 91 of I-8/4, Street 10 in Block D of Media Town, Street 12 of l-10/2, Street 33 of G-11/2, Street 30 of Pakistan Town Phase 1 and Street 35 of G-6/2,” the notification stated.

Teams from the District Health Office will monitor the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and extensive contact tracing will be carried out in these streets and adjacent areas.

There were 157 new cases reported on Sunday out of 4,057 tests carried out in the last 24 hours.

The test-positivity rate rose from 3.7pc on Saturday to 3.8pc.

The highest number of cases – 12 – was reported in Chak Shahzad, 10 cases were reported from P.W.D Colony and nine cases were reported from I-8.

Mr Shafqaat said the administration is anticipating a second wave of Covid-19.

“As cases have been increasing for the last month, I believe that the second wave has already arrived in the federal capital. However a good thing is that we have fewer patients on ventilators, due to which the situation is under control,” he said.

He added that with the temperature falling, the number of cases will increase further in coming days.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Joint Executive Director Dr Minhajus Siraj said that two of the 12 ventilators dedicated to Covid-19 treatment were in use at the hospital on Sunday.

“We have 18 oxygenated beds dedicated for Covid-19 patients, and 12 are vacant as six patients were admitted to the hospital on Sunday,” he said.

“Currently, the situation is under control, but things will start worsening with the increase in the number of cases,” he said.

Rawalpindi

There were 14 cases of Covid-19 reported in Rawalpindi while 40 patients recovered from the disease.

There are currently 19 patients admitted to Holy Family Hospital, while 147 are isolated in their homes. The local administration has said that 511 people are quarantined.

Rawalpindi Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood said 8,889 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the division since March – 7,435 in Rawalpindi, 650 in Attock, 506 in Jhelum and 298 in Chakwal.

A total 310 people have died in Rawalpindi, 39 in Chakwal, 21 in Attock and nine in Jhelum, while 8,317 people have recovered – 6,959 in Rawalpindi, 615 in Attock, 489 in Jhelum and 253 in Chakwal.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2020