RAWALPINDI: Two women died of the novel coronavirus on Friday, taking the death toll to five in the Rawalpindi Division.

On the other hand, four patients were discharged after they recovered from the virus while one patient tested positive in Rawalpindi and 19 in Jhelum.

One of the deceased, a 41-year-old woman from Kalyam Awan of Gujar Khan had recently returned from France. She died at the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) which has been declared as the Corona Management Centre.

The woman was first brought to Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) with the symptoms of Covid-19 last month. The patient was shifted to the RIU after she tested positive for the virus. Health authorities have already quarantined her seven-year-old daughter and 29 other family members and relatives in her village.

The body of the woman was shifted to her village by Rescue 1122 where a selected number of people attended the funeral and the burial took place as per the SOP issued by the government.

Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi retired Capt Anwarul Haq confirmed that the woman had died of Covid-19.

He said the district administration and the health authorities conducted test on 29 people who had been in contact with her. “Among them, 10 people tested positive,” he said.

The other woman, aged 53, belonged to Mohalla Mashreqiabad of Taxila and health authorities confirmed that she was a Covid-19 patient. Her funeral was offered at a local graveyard by health authorities in full preventive gear.

Deputy District Officer Health Dr Sara Qadeer said the deceased had no travel history and contracted the virus through local transmission.

She wasinitially admittedto a private hospital with the complaint of flu and later referred to Rawalpindi where she died.

“She had tested positive for coronavirus,” said the official.

Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Faheem said all family members of the woman had been quarantined and their condition was being monitored.

It is the second death from Covid-19 in Taxila. On March 29, a 50-year-old woman, a resident of Jameelabad, died of the disease.

Meanwhile, a UK-returned Pakistani citizen also tested positive for Covid-19 in Gulyana Mor, Gujar Khan. The health authorities have moved the patient to RIU. Eight family members of the infected person have been quarantined.

On the other hand, 19 new patients were reported in Jhelum and one in Rawalpindi. At present, there are 105 patients in Rawalpindi hospitals, nine in Attock, 59 in Jhelum and seven in Chakwal.

The local administrations have also kept 669 people in quarantines in the four districts - Rawalpindi 409, 19 in Attock and 241 in Jhelum. Besides, 408 people have been isolated in their houses.

Tableeghi Jamaat’s 516 members have been isolated in Rawalpindi division. As many as 150 are in Rawalpindi district, 63 in Attock, 198 in Jhelum and 105 in Chakwal while 290 preachers are in mosques and 106 at their homes.

Meanwhile, Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood said three field hospitals were being established at Sports Complex Double Road, Rawal Road Park and Red Crescent Hospital to isolate the coronavirus patients.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2020