ISLAMABAD: The increase in the number of Covid-19 cases continued in the capital as 384 more people were found infected on Friday, the highest since Dec 7.

Officials of the capital administration said two deaths were also reported in the city. The gradual increase in the number of cases has been seen during the last six days.

The deaths of a male and a female patients were reported in the age group of 60-69. The deceased were residents of G-6 and Rawal Town.

During the last 24 hours, 6,224 tests were conducted and 227 males and 157 females were found positive. The positivity rate was 6.1pc.

The officials said 74 cases were reported in the age group of 20-29, 70 in 30-39, 35 in 40-49, 49 in 0-9, 44 in 50-59, 37 in 10-19, 33 in 60-69, nine in 70-79 and three in 80 years and above.

Two deaths also reported in Islamabad, three in Rawalpindi

Likewise, 44 cases were reported from Loi Bher, 26 from Tarlai, 20 from I-10, 19 from G-9, 18 from Bhara Kahu, 15 each from G-10, F-8, 13 from F-10, 12 each from F-11, E-11, 11 each from G-6, F-7, 10 each from G-7, F-6, Chak Shahzad, G-5, I-9, nine each from G-11, Rawat, eight from Koral, seven each from G-8, Sohan, six each from G-13, Alipur, five each from Khanna, Kurri, four each from Chirrah, Bari Imam, three each from H-13, Rawal Town, two each from D-12, G-14, Kirpa, G-15, I-11, H-10 and one each from Sihala, E-7, F-5, G-12, Gokina, Tarnol, G-16, H-9 and F-13.

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia said during the last 24 hours 1,144 people were vaccinated in the capital. He said 746 healthcare workers and 396 senior citizens were among them.

He said 259 healthcare workers and senior citizens were vaccinated at Pims, 218 at Rural Health Centre Tarlai, 208 at CDA Hospital, 148 at Polyclinic, 68 at Quaid-i-Azam International Hospital, 67 at Federal General Hospital, 43 each at National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and Kulsum Hospital, 38 each at RHC Bhara Kahu and Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital, 10 at RHC Sihala and two at Isolation Hospital and Infections Treatment Centre.

So far, 24,657 health workers and senior citizens have been registered at 12 centres, Dr Zia said, adding out of the total a vaccination schedule had been issued to 18,584 people and 12,977 of them vaccinated.

Rawalpindi

Three people died in the district and 109 patients tested positive on Friday.

Shujah Ahmed, 80, a resident of Bahria Town, was brought to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) on February 27 where he died.

Ulfat Begum, 65, a resident of Pirwadhai, died at Holy Family Hospital where he was admitted on March 11.

Kamran Jan, 65, a resident of Gujar Khan, arrived at Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre on March 11 and died on Thursday night.

There are 730 active patients in the district - 270 in hospitals and 450 isolated in their homes. However, 446 patients are waiting for their test results.

Officials said 77 of the patients belonged to Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas, five from Gujar Khan, four each from Murree and Taxila and one patient each from Kahuta, Kallar Syedan and Kotli Sattian.

As many as 15 patients are admitted to Holy Family Hospital, 12 to Benazir Bhutto Hospital, 40 to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, 26 to Fauji Foundation Hospital and one to Attock Hospital Rawalpindi. Moreover, three patients in Red Crescent Corona Care Hospital.

Total 11 patients are on ventilators, including 40 on oxygen and 46 stable.

Taxila

The authorities in Attock on Friday sealed a school after a teacher tested positive there.

According to official sources, the female teacher at Government Girls Primary School Jand has been admitted to a hospital in Islamabad. Chief executive officer District Health Authority Dr Jawad Ellahi said soon after getting information from the education department, teams from the health department reached the school and carried out disinfection spray besides screening other teachers and students of the infected educator.

According to Assistant Commissioner Jand Ijaz Abdul Kareem, the school has been sealed for a week.

Earlier, education authorities closed a girls’ school in Hassanabdal after three students and two teachers tested positive there.

When contacted, Assistant Commissioner Zuniara Jalil confirmed that students and staff of the school had tested positive. She said the school was closed for one week to carry out preventive measures to avert further spread of the virus. She said tracing and sampling of their respective family members and contacts was being carried out.— Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2021