ISLAMABAD/rawalpindi: With no let-up in the number of Covid-19 cases in educational institutions in the capital, the health authorities on Friday requested the deputy commissioner (DC) to seal 14 more schools and colleges after students and staff were found infected by the virus.

On the other hand, 1,550 people tested positive in Islamabad district, recording a positivity ratio of 17.1pc.

An increase in infection ratio was also seen in Rawalpindi on Friday. As many as 381 people contracted the virus in the district, registering a rate of 15.2pc.

A total of 137 educational institutions – 45 colleges and 92 schools –have been sealed and 546 people diagnosed with the virus in Islamabad since Jan 1.

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia said the recommendation to seal the educational institutions - three colleges and 11 schools - was sent to the DC to prevent the further spread of coronavirus.

l Positivity rate in Pindi, Islamabad jumps over 15pc l Over 1,900 new patients surface in both districts in single day

The request was made on the basis of surveillance and test results from public and private hospitals and laboratories.

The deputy commissioner was asked to shut Islamabad Model School for Girls (I-V) Farash Town, Islamabad Model School for Girls (I-V) Kot Hathial, Islamabad Model School for Girls (I-V) Shahzad Town, Islamabad Model School (I-V) G-10/1, Islamabad Model School (I-V) School No. 1 G-9/4, Islamabad Model School for Girls (V-X) I-8/1, Islamabad Model School for Girls (I-VIII) Rajwal, Islamabad Model School for Girls (I-VIII) PTC Sihala, Islamabad Model School for Boys (I-VIII) I-8/1, Islamabad Model School for Girls (I-X) Nara Syedan, Islamabad Model School for Girls (I-X) President Estate Colony, Islamabad Model College for Girls I-8/4, Islamabad Model College for Girls Thanda Pani and Islamabad Model College for Boys Mughal. Dr Zia said 69 virus cases were reported from these institutions.

Besides, Assistant Commissioner (Secretariat) Aneel Sayed sealed two other schools in the area of Mohra Noor, Banigala, on Friday. AC Sayed said Azhar Naseer Shaheed Model School for Boys (I-VIII) Mohra Noor and Islamabad Model School for Girls (I-X) Mohra Noor were closed.

Meanwhile, officials of the capital administration said 394 new cases were reported in the age group of 30-39, followed by 360 in 20-29, 251 in 40-49, 184 in 0-9, 143 in 50-59, 120 in 10-19, 62 in 60-69, 29 in 70-79, and five patients were over 80.

Likewise, 44 cases were reported from Lohi Bher, followed by 23 from I-8, 22 each from G-10, G-6 and G-13, 21 each from G-9 and G-11, 19 from G-5, 17 from I-9, 16 from Rawat, 14 each from E-11 and F-8, 13 each from I-10 and G-7, 12 from Bhara Kahu, 11 each from Chak Shahzad and I-12, 10 each from Sohan and Alipur, nine from F-6, eight each from Koral and Sihala, seven each from F-11, F-10, G-8, Tarlai and D-12, five each from Rawal Town and Chirrah, four each from Kurri and H-9, three each from F-7, Khanna, G-15, G-14, Kirpa, E-8 and Tarnol, two each from Bari Imam, H-8, I-11, B-17, H-13 and I-14 and one each from E-7, H-12, F-5 Model Town Humak, H-10 and F-15. The addresses of 1,098 cases are not known.

In Rawalpindi district, 184 people were discharged from hospitals after recovering during the last 24 hours. According to the health authority’s data, 2,472 samples were collected out of which 2,091 were declared negative.

There are currently 2,990 active patients in the district, out of whom 82 are in hospitals and 2,908 are home isolated.

As many as 100 patients were reported from different parts of Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonments, 43 from city areas and 80 patients from Potohar Town.

A total of 52 patients were reported from Gujar Khan, 33 from Taxila, seven from Kahuta, 42 from Kallar Syedan, three from Kotli Sattian and one from Murree. As many as 20 patients arrived from other districts including 12 from Islamabad, two from Chakwal while one patient each arrived from Attock, Abbottabad, Narowal, D.I. Khan and Gujranwala.

As many as 12 patients are admitted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital, four were in Holy Family Hospital, 31 in Fauji Foundation Hospital, 32 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology while two patients are admitted to Attock Hospital Rawalpindi and one was in Bilal Hospital.

There are five patients on ventilators in Rawalpindi, 42 patients are on oxygen support and 35 are stable.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2022