RAWALPINDI: The number of active Covid-19 cases in the country crossed the 60,000 mark on Friday as 4,537 more people tested positive for the deadly virus while 86 patients died during the last 24 hours in the country.

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday decided to take all possible measures to assist the government in combating spread of the disease.

According to an update issued by the NCOC, most of the deaths occurred in Sindh followed by Punjab.

Meanwhile, six people lost their lives to the disease in Islamabad and Rawalpindi district. As many as 474 people were diagnosed with the disease in both areas. Positivity rate in Islamabad rose to 9.8pc and 12pc in Rawalpindi district.

The measures being undertaken by the federal government include ramp up of critical care capacity including oxygenated beds and vents, availability of oxygenand deployment of law enforcement agencies for implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and non-pharmaceutical interventions.

Six die in Islamabad, Rawalpindi district

Around 938,843 people have recovered from the disease so far across the country, making it a significant count with over 90pc recovery ratio of affected patients.

Islamabad

Two people succumbed to Covid-19 in the capital. One of the patients was a boy (0-9) while the other was a male patient (30-39).The deceased were residents of G-9 and E-11.

During the last 24 hours 3,484 tests were conducted in the capital which detected the virus, capital administration officials said, in 179 women and 164 men, and the positivity rate stood at 9.8pc.

They said 87 cases were reported in the age group of 20-29, followed by 70 in 30-39, 42 in 40-49, 41 in 10-19, 35 in 0-9, 29 in 50-59,23 in 60-69 and 10 in 70-79. Age groups of six infected people are not known, they added.

As many as 31 cases were reported from Lohi Bher, followed by 20 from Bhara Kahu, 18 from G-6, 17 from G-9, 14 from I-8, 13 from G-11, 12 each from I-10 and F-6, 10 each from Rawat and G-7, nine each from G-10 and Koral, eight from G-5, six each from G-13 and I-9, five each from E-11, G-8, Alipur, and H-8, four each from Tarlai, Khanna, and F-7, three each from F-8, F-11, Chak Shahzad, E-7 and Tarnol, two each from F-10, Rawal Town, H-13, and Gokina, and one each from G-15, Kurri, Kirpa, F-15, B-17, H-9, I-14, G-16, H-12, I-11 and E-8.

Rawalpindi

Four people died of Covid-19 in the district on Friday while 131 people tested positive for the virus and 73 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery during the last 24 hours.

Rasheeda Bibi, 57, resident of Muslim Town was brought to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on July 29 where she passed away on Friday.

Iqbal Begum, 72, resident of Galyana, Gujar Khan was shifted to Ali Medical Centre on July 29 where she died on Friday.

Yaqoob Hussain, 77, resident of New Kashmir Colony, Wah arrived at Pims on July 29 where he died on Friday.

Syed Wajid Sherazi, 69, resident of Dheri Hassan Abad arrived at Kulsoom International Hospital on July 29 where he died on Friday.

There are five patients on ventilators in Rawalpindi, 62 are on oxygen support and 69 are stable.

“The number of patients infected with the virus in the fourth wave has reached to 29,000. The rate of positive cases in Rawalpindi district during the last week was 8.1pc as compared to 5.4pc in June last year,” said Divisional Surveillance Officer and spokesperson for District Health Authority Rawalpindi Dr Waqar Ahmed.

He said that the number of Covid-19 cases has increased sharply in July this year as at the beginning of this month about 20 cases were being reported daily in the district but since the third week of this month, the number of daily cases reached 70 and 100. On July 29, 165 cases were reported in Rawalpindi district.

More stringent implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in Rawalpindi district is required and the process of vaccination against the virus will have to be intensified, he said, adding in other districts of the division like Jhelum, Chakwal and Attock, the situation is much better and the rate of positive cases is less than 1pc.

The community vaccination campaign is underway in five districts of Punjab including Rawalpindi during which 70pc of the population of Rawalpindi (aged 18 years and above) will be vaccinated till Aug 10.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2021