ISLAMABAD: Casualties continued to mount in the twin cities as 12 more people lost their lives to Covid-19 while 485 cases surfaced during the last 24 hours.

According to the district administration officials, five people passed away in Islamabad on Monday. They had been isolated in different hospitals where they were kept under observation due to their critical condition.The capital saw a reduction in the number of daily cases on Monday but the positivity ratio increased by 1pc.

Officials told Dawn that 341 confirmed cases were reported on Monday compared to 355 on Sunday. As many as 5,149 tests were conducted out of which 341 people had contracted the virus, showing a positivity ratio of 6.62pc. On Sunday, 6,699 people had been tested with the positivity rate of 5.29pc.In November, 92 deaths and 10,153 positive cases were reported in the capital compared to 40 deaths and 3,359 positive patients in October, the officials said, adding that cases reported in the capital had reached 30,123 with 23,736 people having recovered so far. At present, the capital has 5,665 active cases.

Rawalpindi

As many as seven people died in Rawalpindi district and 144 more contracted the deadly virus on Monday.

The death toll in the district has risen to 408.

Kausar Sultana, 74, a resident of Chaklala Scheme-III extension, was admitted to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) on Nov 24 where she died on Sunday evening. Tayyaba Hafeez, 40, a resident of Gulraiz-4, was shifted to IHITC Islamabad on Nov 29 but died in the evening.

Smart lockdown enforced in 12 areas in Pindi district; 485 test positive in last 24 hours

Naeema Nighat, 48, a resident of Bahria Town Phase-8, was admitted to the hospital on Sunday where she died at night. Zahid Iqbal, 47, from Jhanda Chichi was brought to Holy Family Hospital on Sunday where he breathed his last.

Abdul Hameed, 62, a resident of Commercial Market D-Block, was shifted to RIU on Sunday where he died while Tajira Bibi, 54, of Dad Khan Colony died in Bahria Town Hospital on Nov 29. Munir Ahmed, 59, a resident of Mohallah Daryabad, succumbed to the virus in RIU on Nov 29.As many as 26 patients are admitted to Holy Family Hospital, 37 are being treated in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, eight in Red Crescent Hospital, four in Hearts International and 45 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology.

Around 1,190 patients have been isolated in their homes while 549 are waiting for their results.

Since March, Rawalpindi district has reported 10,364 patients of Covid-19, 408 have died and 8,594 patients discharged after recovering

Meanwhile, smart lockdown was imposed in 12 areas in Rawalpindi district after the health department identified them as hotspots. The lock down will remain in effect till Dec 8.

The areas that have been sealed are Airport Housing Society, Mirza Colony Tench Bhatta, street no 3, Tehmasmabad; Block-A, Block-D Satellite Town, New Malpur, Seventh Road, Satellite Town; Shaheen Town Phase-II, Paracha Chowk, Dhoke Kangal near Punjab College; street no 17, Gulzar-i-Quaid; Farooq-i-Azam Road, Shamasabad, Lalarukh, Wah Cantt, Barki Jadeed Gujar Khan; Jemote Kalan, Daryala Khakhi, Gujar Khan and Mohallah Zargaran, Daultala.

Under the smart lockdown, small localities such as a building with multiple units or small neighbourhoods are sealed.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq told Dawn that the sealed areas were hotspots of the virus.

According to data provided by Punjab Information Technology Board, Mr Haq said the district administration had recommended locking down the areas, adding that the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department issued a notification in this regard.

“The number of Covid-19 patients is increasing in these areas and thus the district administration decided to seal them. The number of death cases are also rising in the district,” he said.

The deputy commissioner said the district administration was working to create awareness among people to adopt safety measures.

Taxila

In the wake of rising coronavirus cases, the local administration imposed a smart lockdown in ward 8 of Wah on Monday which would remain in force till Dec 8, a notification issued by the Punjab government said.

As many as 62 Covid-19 cases were reported in various localities of the ward, including Officers Colony, Lalarukh, Lalazar, Gulshan Colony and Shahwali Colony.

According to the notification, markets, shopping malls, restaurants, private and government offices will remain closed in these areas. Gatherings and public transport will be restricted while medical services, pharmacies, laboratories, collection points, hospitals and clinics will remain open 24 hours.

The notification said shops, including chicken and meat shops as well as bakeries, in the lockdown areas would remain open from 7am to 7pm. In addition, grocery stores, fruit and vegetable shops, tandoor shops and petrol pumps will also remain open from 9am to 7pm.

Assistant Commissioner Shahzad Mehboob on Monday visited the area and closed down shops that were violating the notification. Meanwhile, a Covid-19 positive patient died and three more contracted the virus in Attock on Monday.

According to health authorities, Lal Khan was under treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital.

With the emergence of new patients, the number of positive cases has risen to 781 in Attock.

According to health authorities, a case each was reported in Attock city, Fatehjang and Pindigheb.

Attock district’s focal person for Covid-19 Dr Saeed Akhtar said there were 66 active patients across the district with eight admitted to District Headquarters Hospital and the remaining isolated at homes. — Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2020