RAWALPINDI: While the number of active cases and hospitalisation of Covid-19 patients has significantly dropped in the district, the chief of Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) and its allied hospitals foresees a surge in cases once universities and other educational institutions open next week.

Talking to Dawn, RMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Umer said: “Though the surge will be mild, there is a dire need to adopt safety measures till the arrival of the vaccine.”

He said positivity rate in the country, especially Rawalpindi district, dropped to 3.2pc in the last three weeks.

“If the positivity rate fell to 1.5pc, we can then say the virus is under control, and this can only be achieved if people adopt safety measures, wear masks and stopped visiting restaurants, bazaars and indoor congested areas,” he said.

RMU head foresees surge in cases once educational institutions open next week

Dr Umer said the government was in the process of bringing Covid-19 vaccine to the country and until it arrived, people should take health precautions. He also urged people who had recovered from the virus to be careful while going to congested areas.

“The number of patients in the city hospitals has reduced significantly as less than 50 patients are admitted to government hospitals at present,” he added.

To a question about low testing, the RMU vice chancellor said government hospitals had not refused any patient for Covid-19 test, but fewer people were reported to hospitals, adding that doctors had managed to test people showing symptoms of the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, 14 people contracted the virus in Rawalpindi district on Friday while 19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovering. No death was reported in the district from the virus.

Out of the 14 new patients, six were from Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas, three each from Gujar Khan and Kahuta while one each had arrived from Karachi and Bahawalpur.

As many as 294 active patients are in the district with 33 admitted to hospitals and 261 home isolated. As many as 457 patients are waiting for their Covid-19 serology results.

A total of 40 patients are admitted to hospitals out of whom six are in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, nine in Fauji Foundation Hospital, five are under treatment in Holy Family Hospital, one in Red Crescent Hospital, three in Hearts International Hospital, one each in Attock Hospital Rawalpindi and Begum Akhtar Sultana Memorial Trust Hospital and 14 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that three patients were in critical condition and needed ventilators, 22 were on oxygen and 15 were stable.

He said 16,749 people had tested positive since March 2020, with 13,668 in Rawalpindi, 1,194 in Attock, 1,280 in Jhelum and 607 in Chakwal.

He said 15,596 patients had been discharged from hospitals after recovering while 714 people had died in Rawalpindi Division in the last 10 months.

SHO passes away

A police official, who had tested positive for Covid-19, died at the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Friday, taking the number of police personnel who have died of the virus in Rawalpindi to three.

Sub-Inspector Asim Rasheed, who served as the station house officer of Morgah, was undergoing treatment at NIH since Jan 14. Two other inspectors - Yaseen Khan and Mohammad Ajaib - had also lost their lives to the virus.

Rasheed’s father died on Thursday due to Covid-19 in his native town of Jatli and funeral prayers of both the father and son were offered in their hometown, Chak Bahadur Jatli, as per the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The deceased policeman has left behind his mother, widow and two children.

Rawalpindi police, in accordance with the policy of IG Punjab Inam Ghani, paid dues to the family of the deceased sub-inspector.

“Shaheed Sub-Inspector Asim Rasheed’s services to the police department are unforgettable,” CPO Rawalpindi Mohammad Ahsan Younas said in his condolence message to his family.

Islamabad

The capital administration lifted the ban on timing restrictions on outdoor dining in restaurants. However, the restriction on indoor dining in restaurants will remain.

A notification issued by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat stated that the timing restriction of 10pm imposed on outdoor dining in restaurants on Dec 8, 2020, has been lifted as per directions from the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC). Other commercial activities, markets, shopping malls, excluding essential services such as medical stores, clinics, hospitals and petrol pumps, will close at 10pm. Amusement parks will remain open till 6pm.

However, SOPs issued to limit the spread of Covid-19 shall be followed strictly along with precautionary and preventive measures.

Meanwhile, four deaths from the virus and 100 fresh cases were reported in the capital on Friday compared to 100 cases on Thursday.

Besides, 117 patients recovered from the disease.

Three persons who died were residents of G-9, Alipur and Sihala. Address of one deceased was not known.

The total number of the cases in the capital reached 41,176 and the death toll stands at 476.

So far, 39,196 patients have recovered and there are 1,504 active cases.

Additional reporting by Mohammad Asghar

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2021