ISLAMABAD: Four more people lost their lives to Covid-19 in the capital and Rawalpindi district on Monday. As many as 277 people were diagnosed with the disease in both districts whereas positivity rate in Islamabad was 5.08pc.

Officials of the capital administration said the deceased were male and female patients in the 70-79 age bracket and resided in G-9 and G-7, respectively.

During the last 24 hours, 3,089 tests were conducted in the capital out of which 157 came back positive. They said 37 cases were reported in the age group of 30-39, followed by 33 in 20-29, 20 in 60-69, 17 in 50-59, 15 in 40-49, 13 in 10-19, 11 in 0-9, seven in 70-79 and four in 80 and above.

Likewise, 20 cases were reported from Lohi Bher, followed by 11 from I-8, 10 from G-11, nine from Rawat, seven each from G-9, Khanna and F-7, six each from F-8, five each from E-11, F-11 and G-13, four each from Bhara Kahu, G-10 and G-7, three each from G-6, I-10 and Sihala, two each from F-6, Sohan, and Shah Allah Dita, and one each from Tarlai, Alipur, Koral, I-9, Chirrah, H-13, Model Town, G-14, E-7, I-11, B-17, G-12 and H-11.

The deceased in Rawalpindi were identified as Mohammad Farooq Ahmed, 74, and Abdul Qayyum Mughal, 68. One belonged to Kamalabad and the other was from Waris Khan area.

APP ADDS: Deputy Commissioner Amir Aqiq Khan on Monday said the prevailing fourth wave proved more deadly than the previous ones as the number of patients was increasing rapidly in the district.

Chairing a meeting to review arrangements at his office, he said vaccines provided maximum protection from infection, adding that they are the most important weapon against the disease.

To contain the spread of this deadly virus, the district administration has made provision of Covid-19 vaccination certificates mandatory before visiting government offices.

No person would be allowed to enter any government office without a certificate, he said, adding that if we want to defeat Covid-19, we must follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) including wearing face masks, maintaining social distance and avoiding crowded places.

As many as 23 cases were reported from Potohar town, 30 from Rawalpindi cantonment, 34 from Rawal Town, six from Gujar Khan while one case each was reported from Murree, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta. Presently, 15 patients are admitted to Holy Family Hospital, seven were in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, 38 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), 18 in Fauji Foundation Hospital, four in District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, two in Bilal Hospital and one each in Hearts International Hospital and Attock hospital, the deputy commissioner added.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2021