• Action will be taken against violators • Casualties reported in Rawalpindi, Islamabad • 598 test positive

ISLAMABAD: With five deaths and 469 new Covid-19 cases reported on Monday, the capital administration issued directions to the administrations of mosques and imambargahs to ensure implementation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent further spread of the virus.

Officials told Dawn that directives had been issued to mosques and imambargahs from the Auqaf Directorate. The directives say 20-point SOPs should be implemented, especially during Taraweeh.

Arrangements should be made in mosques and imambargahs in a way that there is sufficient distance between worshipers. In this regard, markings should be made at an appropriate distance.

The worshipers should wear masks during Taraweeh and that prayers should be offered in verandas instead of halls. People with cough, flu and fever should not be allowed to offer prayers inside mosques. The khateebs and mosque committees would be responsible to enforce the SOPs.

Talking to Dawn, a senior officer of the administration said the mosques and imambargah committees had been made responsible for implementing the SOPs. They have been told that in case of any violation action would be taken against them.

Meanwhile, five deaths from Covid-19 were reported in the capital on Monday and three on Sunday.

Two deaths of males were reported in the age group of 60-69 and one each in the age group of 30-39 and 50-59 on Saturday. A woman in the age group of 60-69 also died of the virus.

They were residents of Bhara Kahu, I-10, Khanna, Sihala and Tarnol.

Likewise, a male died in the age group of 70-79 on Sunday and two women lost their lives in the age group of 50-59 and 60-69. They were residents of Bhara Kahu, G-6 and Khanna.

Moreover, 469 more cases emerged in the city. During the last 24 hours, 3,725 tests were conducted and the positivity rate was 12.59pc.

There are 12,792 active cases in the capital while so far 665 patients have died.

Out of the total 12,792 patients, 284 patients, who are residents of Islamabad, have been kept in 16 hospitals, and 259 of them are on oxygen and 25 on ventilators.

Likewise, 243 patients, who are residents of other towns and districts, are also admitted to these hospitals, out of whom 207 are on oxygen and 36 on ventilators.

Rawalpindi

As many as 11 people died of Covid-19 in Rawalpindi district and 129 others tested positive on Monday. Moreover, 382 patients were discharged from hospitals during the last 24 hours.

Elahi Jan, 45, a resident of Mohalla Qaziyan Wah Cantonment, died at the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) where he was admitted on April 22.

Shareefa Bibi, 58, and Abdul Rasheed, 55, residents of city area, and Mohammad Anwar, 75, of Rira Mor, were brought to Holy Family Hospital (HFH) two days ago, where they passed away. Naseem Begum, 70, a resident of Wah Cantonment, died at Capital Hospital where she was admitted on April 24.

Mushtaq Ahmed, 55, a resident of Misrial Road Chur Chowk, passed away at Shifa International Hospital two days after hospitalisation while Zohra Begum, 75, of Kahuta, succumbed to the virus at the Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre.

Zohra Mehdi, 80, a resident of Adra, Makhni Bibi, 26, of Harley Street, and Safdar Ali, 76, of Gulshanabad Adiala Road, were admitted to Hearts International Hospital two days ago, where they died.

Sajid Ali, 45, a resident of Mohalla Irshad Nagar, died at Social Security Hospital where he was brought on April 25.

There are currently 1,678 active patients in the district - 202 in hospitals and 1,476 in home isolation. Moreover, 685 patients are waiting for the results of their Covid-19 serology.

Officials said 96 of the new patients were reported from the garrison city - 22 from the cantonment, 28 from Potohar Town and 46 from Rawal Town.

Besides, eight patients arrived from Gujar Khan, nine from Taxila, four from Kalar Syedan, two each from Kotli Sattian, Kahuta, Murree, three patients from Islamabad and one each from Attock, Jhang and Khushab.

Of the new patients, 31 are admitted to the HFH, 27 to Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), three to the District Headquarters Hospital, 118 to the RIU, 25 TO Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH) and one to Begum Akhter Rukhsana Hospital.

There are 20 patients on ventilators and 125 on oxygen.

Attock

Seven more people were found infected in Attock on Monday. Health officials said Sajid Ali, 55, a resident of Hassanabdal, succumbed to the virus.

District focal person for Covid-19 Kashif Hussain said four of the new patients belonged to Hazro and three to the Attock city. He said the number of active patients in the district was 295 - 291 home isolated and four hospitalised. There are 136 active patients in Attock city, 66 in Hazro, 44 in Pindigheb, 26 in Jand, 14 in Hassanabdal and nine in Fatehjang.

Responding to a question, the official said results of 436 suspected patients were awaited. So far, 1,592 patients have recovered from the disease. — Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2021