• Assistance of ulema sought in spreading message
• Covid-19 cases continue to rise in capital; two die in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: The deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police (operations) on Friday delivered speeches at Faisal Mosque to create awareness among people of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the harmful effects of drugs.

On the other hand, there was no let-up in the number of cases in Islamabad while two persons succumbed to Covid-19 in Rawalpindi.

DC Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat told Dawn that he and SSP Operations Dr Syed Mustafa Tanweer took this initiative to communicate with people who had no access to social media. Earlier, both officials delivered speeches at other mosques.

“Today, we gave a speech about Covid-19 SOPs as well as harmful effects of drugs and plastic bags, water shortage and cleanliness during Eidul Azha. The platform is also used to seek community help for the betterment of citizens. We have decided to deliver speeches at mosques and imambargahs during Friday prayers all over the capital at least once a month,” Mr Shafqaat said, adding that other officers of the administration and police will also deliver speeches at mosques in the future.

The DC and SSP asked people to take precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 otherwise more areas of the capital would need to be sealed. They also sought the assistance of ulema in educating people about the virus and what they could do to protect themselves and their families.

Everyone should remain careful during the upcoming week to avoid further spread of the virus, Mr Shafqaat said.

Furthermore, they urged people to fully support the police in taking action against drug peddlers and to eliminate drug use from society.

SSP Tanweer requested ulema to initiate an awareness campaign, adding that police alone could not fight the menace of drugs.

Senior officers of Islamabad police made similar announcements at mosques in their respective areas so that the public could be directly involved in the campaign. Additional SP Islamabad Farhat Abbas Kazmi delivered a speech at Jamia Masjid in G-6/2 while zonal SPs and SHOs made announcements in their respective areas.

Meanwhile, an increase was seen in the number of the Covid-19 patients in the capital.

Officials of the capital administration said 183 new cases emerged while the positivity rate rose to 8.5pc from 6.2pc reported a day earlier.

During the last 24 hours 2,142 tests were conducted in the capital out of which results of 105 males and 78 females came back positive, the officials said, adding that 35 cases were reported in the age group of 20-29 followed by 31 in 30-39, 30 in 0-9, 27 in 10-19, 21 in 50-59, 18 in 40-49, 14 in 60-69, five in 70-79 and two in 80 and above.

Likewise, 16 cases were reported from Lohi Bher, followed by 11 each from Tarlai and G-7, nine from F-10, eight from F-11, seven each from I-8 and G-13, six from E-11, five each from I-9, F-7 and G-12, four each from G-11, Bhara Kahu, G-10 and E-7, three each from Rawat, G-6, G-8, F-8 and Koral, two each from G-9, I-10, Alipur, Chak Shahzad, Model Town, G-5, and one each from Khanna, Kurri, Kirpa, G-15, Rawl Town, F-15 and F-13.

Rawalpindi

Two people died of Covid-19 in Rawalpindi district on Friday and 90 people tested positive for the deadly virus whereas 14 patients were discharged from the hospital after recovery during the last 24 hours.

The deceased were identified as Jameela Bibi, 59, resident of Qasimabad, who was brought to Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on July 12 and Taj Bibi, 60, resident of Fatehjang Road, who breathed her last in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU).

In Rawalpindi district, there are 635 active patients out of whom 90 are in hospitals and 545 home isolated.

Covid-19 is spreading fast in cantonment areas of Rawalpindi as 32 patients arrived from different localities including Siham, Abid Majeed Road and Dhoke Kashmirian while 16 patients arrived from Potohar Town and 15 from city areas around Murree Road. As many as 15 patients came from Taxila, three from Gujar Khan, two from Kahuta and one from Kallar Syedan. Three patients arrived from Islamabad, two from Attock and one from Khushab.

As many as 18 patients are admitted to Holy Family Hospital, 14 were under treatment in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), 30 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), 16 patients in Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH) and one patient in Bilal Hospital.

There are four patients on ventilator in Rawalpindi, 42 are on oxygen support and 33 are stable.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2021