RAWALPINDI: Acting on the directives of the Punjab government, the district administration on Wednesday imposed lockdown in 19 localities of Rawalpindi district, including 16 in the garrison city, till Dec 21 following an increase in the number of Covid-19 patients in the last two weeks.

According to figures released by the administrations of the twin cities, eight deaths were reported in Rawalpindi and Islamabad and 468 new cases surfaced on Wednesday.

Dhoke Najju, Khayaban-i-Sir Syed Sector 3, Waris Khan, Eidgah Mohallah Asghar Mall and Chaklala Scheme-3 were sealed while streets in different areas had been closed including streets 3 and 4 in Gulistan Colony, Street 16 in Asif Colony Qasimabad, streets in Pindora, Street 12 in Daryabad Gawalmandi, streets 11 and 16 in Gulraiz Housing Scheme Phase 2, Street No. 17 Airport Housing Scheme, Seventh Road near Bilal Masjid, Satellite Town.

Selected houses were sealed in Shamsabad Madina Town, Westridge-II, Gulshanabad Adiala, Muslim Town and Rahim Town Shakrial. Three areas in Brahma Taxila, Dupri Kahuta Village and Street 18 of Ward 19 in Gujar Khan.

According to official data, 45 cases were reported from Dhoke Najju Khayaban-i-Sir Syed Sector 3, Waris Khan, Eidgah Mohallah Asghar Mall and Chaklala Scheme-3 in the last two weeks while 83 patients were reported from other areas during the same period.

Entry of people in these areas and streets will be restricted. Grocery stores, tandoors and petrol pumps will remain open throughout the week from 9am to 7pm. Hospitals, medical stores and clinics will also remain open 24 hours a day. On the other hand, milk and meat shops will be allowed to operate from 7am to 7pm seven days a week.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq told Dawn that all these areas had been closed to avoid further spread of the deadly virus in the city, adding that the number of patients increased in these areas where no such case was reported since March.

Meanwhile, five people died in Rawalpindi district from the virus on Wednesday while 109 patients tested positive. As many as 153 patients recovered from Covid-19.

Farzana Bibi, 65, a resident of Madina Town Shamsabad, was brought to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology on Dec 3 where she died on Wednesday.

Bashir Khan, 76, a resident of Murree Road, arrived at Holy Family Hospital on Dec 7 but died on Tuesday night. Saeeda Naseem, 30, from Adwala Kahuta, died at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital where she had been admitted on Dec 7.

Zahida Nasir, 60, a resident of Afshan Colony, was brought to Dr Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital on Dec 7 where she died late Tuesday night. Shamim Akhtar, 65, a resident of Pir Penya village, arrived at Fauji Foundation Hospital on Dec 8 where she succumbed to the virus on Wednesday.A total of 1,196 confirmed patients are under treatment in the district with 135 in hospitals and 1,061 home isolated. Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that in the first nine days of December, 1,070 cases were reported in Rawalpindi while 49 people lost their lives, adding that 1,187 patients have recovered which is the highest number since September.

“In September, 298 patients were reported, eight people died and 327 patients recovered. In October, 635 patients were reported, 32 people died and 490 patients recovered. In November, 1,779 people contracted the virus, 88 people lost their lives and 1,539 recovered,” he added.

Islamabad

An increase was seen in the number of cases in Islamabad as 359 people tested positive on Wednesday.

According to officials of the capital administration, the positivity rate had also increased to 6.2pc from 4.8pc reported on Tuesday.

During the last 24 hours, 5,719 tests were conducted out of which 422 were contacts of confirmed cases and 5,297 were other suspects, the officials said.

Utilisation of hospital beds with oxygen allocated for Covid-19 patients in Islamabad stands at 61pc, which is the highest among 13 major cities.

Three patients lost their lives in the capital on Wednesday, the officials said, adding that two deaths were reported in various hospitals while one died outside Islamabad.

One of patients was on ventilator, they said, adding that the deceased were residents of Lohi Bher and G-8.

According to statistics, 34 cases each were detected in Lohi Bher and Bhara Kahu, followed by 22 in Tarlai, 19 in G-6, 18 in I-8, 16 in G-8, 15 in Alipur, 14 in E-11, 13 in G-7, 12 each in G-9 and F-6, 10 each in G-10 and F-11, nine in Chak Shahzad, eight each in G-11, I-10, Khanna and G-14, seven each in F-10 and F-7, six each in G-13, Rawat, F-8 and G-5, five each in Kurri, H-13 and Chirrah, three each in Rawal Town, Kirpa, Sihala, D-12 and Bari Imam, two each in Sohan, I-9, G-15, H-12, Saidpur and Gokina and one each in I-14, Tarnol, E-7, E-9, Jhangi Syedan, F-15 and Pind Begwal.The capital had 6,069 active cases on Wednesday, the officials said.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2020