ISLAMABAD: The federal capital and the district of Rawalpindi on Sunday reported less than five per cent positivity rate and there was also no death reported from Covid-19.

In Islamabad, 156 people tested positive out of 3,761 tests with the positivity rate standing at 4.9 per cent against 3.98pc on Saturday.

With 70 new cases, the positivity rate further declined to 4.1pc in the Rawalpindi district against 6.9pc on Saturday. An official of the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS), requesting not to be quoted, said though the cases and positivity had reduced, opening of different sectors would be a major challenge.

With no death, 156 people test positive in Islamabad and 70 in Rawalpindi

“From Monday (today), restaurants in open air and a number of other businesses will remain open till midnight. The [health] staff will be used in more than one shifts and will not be able to focus more due to opening of more businesses,” he said.

“As tourism sector is also opening from May 24, chances of virus spread will further increase. Majority of people going to northern areas first come to Islamabad and stay for a few days in the city and then move ahead. They will come to Islamabad as a carrier of the virus. I fear that cases will start increasing again in coming days,” he said.

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia, in a tweet, claimed that the decrease of the positivity rate from 10pc to 5.94pc in four weeks was a reassuring figure.

“We urge everyone eligible to walk to the Mass Vaccination Centre at F-9 to ensure you get vaccinated. Our surveillance teams are keeping a close check on the trend. Follow SOPs,” he said.

Later in another tweet, Dr Zaeem said “Random sampling underway at bakeries, shops and markets in F-10 right now. Please cooperate with the teams and get yourself tested in case of any symptom.”

Rawalpindi

The number of patients decreased in the district as 70 people tested positive on Sunday while 277 others were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours and no death was reported. Positivity rate in the district stands at 4.1 percent.

In Rawalpindi district, there are 851 active patients. As many as 90 patients are in hospitals and 761 home isolated. Moreover, 688 patients are waiting for the results of their Covid-19 serology.

As many as 10 of the new cases were reported from cantonment areas, 16 from Potohar Town and 25 from Rawal Town.

Besides, two patients arrived from Gujar Khan, seven from Taxila, one patient each from Kahuta, Kallar Syedan, Kotli Sattian, AJK, Chakwal, Khushab and Murree while three patients came from Islamabad.

The new patients of Covid-19 were admitted in different hospitals of Rawalpindi city - 14 in Holy Family Hospital, 15 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, 40 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, 24 in Fauji Foundation Hospital, three in Bilal Hospital and one patient each in Hearts International Hospital Begum Akhter Rukhsana Memorial Welfare Trust Hospital respectively. Three patients are on ventilators, 64 on oxygen and 31 are stable.

Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2021