ISLAMABAD: While Islamabad’s over 30pc population has been vaccinated, World Health Organisation (WHO) country head Dr Palitha Mahipala on Sunday observed the arrangements and assured the local administration of all possible support in achieving the target of herd immunity.

Moreover, 109 people were found infected with the virus in the capital. The weekly positivity, which was 11.28pc in the first week of April, has dropped to 2.46pc.

According to an estimate, there are one to 1.2 million vaccineable people in the capital, including those who frequently visit or shift to the city.

Dr Mahipala visited different areas of the city, including the mass vaccination centre at F-9 Park, and appreciated the arrangements.

Weekly positivity drops to 2.46pc against 11.28pc in first week of April

He also offered technical support to the health authorities and said WHO will arrange branding/marketing to promote awareness of vaccination, including placing boards in the city.

“WR @WHO Pakistan visited the mass vaccination centre. He was briefed about the processes in Mass Vac Centre, he praised the management of the centre. He pledged his support for branding and administrative help,” District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zaeem Zia stated in a tweet.

“Weekly positivity further drops to 2.46pc from previous week which was 5.94pc. Almost a 3.5pc drop in one week for weekly positivity. Islamabad vaccinated more than 18,000 people in just one day. Islamabad, so proud of you. NOW get vaccinated and follow SoPs. Long live frontliners,” he said in another tweet.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Zia said over 320,000 people have been vaccinated in the federal capital which is a quite satisfactory number compared to any other city of Pakistan and in neighbouring countries.

“We want to achieve herd immunity at the earliest. I appeal to the masses that they should strictly adhere to the SOPs and vaccinate themselves at the earliest as there is still a long way to go.”

He said the weekly positivity rate was dropping and hoped that things will further improve in coming weeks.

Rawalpindi

Two persons died and 40 people tested positive in the district of Rawalpindi.

Nazam Bibi, 65, a resident of Hayal Shareef, was admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on May 29 where she died.

Naheed Bano, 65, a resident of Westridge-III, also passed away at Pims a day after being admitted there.

In the Rawalpindi district, there are 1,013 active patients- 369 in hospitals and 644 home isolated. As many as 735 patients are waiting for the results of their Covid-19 serology.

Of the new cases, 11 were reported from the cantonment, 10 from Potohar Town and nine from Rawal Town.

Besides, three patients arrived from Taxila, two each from Islamabad, Gujar Khan and Kotli Sattian and one from Murree.

Officials said 20 of the new patients were admitted in Holy Family Hospital, 18 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), 38 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), 28 in Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH), three in Hearts International Hospital, four in Bilal Hospital and two in Begum Akhter Rukhsana Hospital.

There are six patients on ventilators, 62 on oxygen and 45 are stable.

Meanwhile, an Afghan national who tested positive on arrival at Islamabad International Airport (IIA) on Sunday was shifted to an isolation centre.

Bashir Ahmed Said Gul arrived by PIA flight Pk-250 from Kabul and was found infected after he was subjected to the antigen rapid test.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2021