ISLAMABAD: Three more people have died in Islamabad, bringing the Covid-19 death toll in the capital to five. The number of confirmed cases has also increased to 185.

According to details collected from hospital and capital administration officials, three people died of Covid-19 in Islamabad on Monday and Tuesday.

An 82-year-old resident of Tarlai died on Monday and a 50-year-old resident of Iqbal Town and a Mohmand Agency native died Tuesday.

Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) spokesperson Dr Wasim Khawaja confirmed that two patients died at the hospital, one the previous night and the other Tuesday afternoon. He said both patients had been in critical condition and were placed on a ventilator for the last few days.

He said the bodies of the deceased were moved to the mortuary, where they were kept until further procedures.

Administration officials also confirmed the death of one person in Tarlai and said that arrangements are being made for the burial.

Disease toll reaches five, confirmed cases now 185

There have been 14 new cases reported in Islamabad in the last 48 hours. Two cases each were reported from G-6, G-7 and Sohan, and one case each from Bari Imam, G-10, G-13, G-9 and Tarlai. Two people have also tested positive at a seminary in Banigala.

One of the patients is a student and the other is a teacher, the officials said. Both have been quarantined at the seminary and police have been deployed there in shifts.

Data compiled as of April 20 by the administration suggests that the Covid-19 fatality rate in Islamabad has reached 0.9pc from 0.012pc, while the overall attack rate per 10,000 people rose to 0.9pc from 0.081pc, officials said.

They said that 50 to 59-year-olds are the most vulnerable age group with an attack rate of 2.31pc, which increased from 1.94pc from April 19 to April 20.

The second most vulnerable group are 70 to 79-year-olds, amongst whom the attack rate rose to 2.22pc from 1.94pc in the past 24 hours, they said.

The 60-69 and 30-39 brackets are the third and fourth most vulnerable, after the attack rate for them rose from 1.87pc to 2.12pc and 1.9pc to 2.11pc in one day. The attack rate for those between the ages of 40 and 49 and 10 and 19 rose from 1.43pc to 1.72pc and from 0.36pc to 0.38pc, respectively.

So far, 49 people between the ages of 30 and 39 have contracted the disease, followed by 29 from the 40 to 49 age bracket, 25 from the 50 to 59 age bracket, 24 from the 20 to 29 age bracket, 18 from the 10 to 19 age bracket, 17 from the 60 to 69 age bracket, eight each from the zero to nine age bracket and the 70 to 79 age bracket and three from the 80 and above bracket, they said.

5,500 people tested for Covid-19 in capital

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat told Dawn that more than 5,500 people have been tested for Covid-19 in Islamabad, of which 3,782 were negative and 1,348 people are still suspected patients.

He said the tests were conducted based on surveillance reports from various departments, including those related to healthcare.

Mr Shafqaat said 200 Covid-19 tests are being conducted in Islamabad everyday.

There are currently 14 Covid-19 patients admitted to Pims, 13 at the OGDCL Hostal and four at the Federal Government Services Hospital. The remaining patients have been isolated at home.

Of the total number of cases, five people have died and 20 have recovered so far.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2020