ISLAMABAD: With the second wave of Covid-19 setting in, the twin cities reported four deaths on Friday and over 300 new cases, including a dozen in International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) and a few in a school, prompting the authorities to seal the institutions.

The capital administration officials said the IIUI was immediately closed after a dozen staffers and students tested positive for the virus. Earlier, the university had remained closed from Oct 27 to Nov 2 for disinfection after a student tested positive with many others being suspected cases.

The District Health Office traced the contacts of the student who were then tested and a dozen were found to have contracted the virus.

A notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services and the District Health Office Islamabad on Friday stated that 12 positive cases were reported from different departments of the IIUI.

IIUI sealed again after 12 staff, students test positive; over 300 new cases reported in twin cities

It is therefore advised to immediately close down the university premises till further intimation by the office of the district health officer.

The premises should also be thoroughly disinfected as per the guidelines issued by the ministry, the notification said, adding that those residing in hostels must be isolated till they recover and their contacts quarantined in separate isolated areas. Similarly, Islamabad Model School for Girls (VI-X), G-11/1, was also closed after two positive cases were detected there, officials said.

Meanwhile, two deaths and 273 positive cases of the virus were reported in the capital, the officials said, adding that during the last 24 hours, 5,740 tests were conducted with a positivity rate of 4.75pc.

The officials said 27 cases were reported from G-10, 24 from Bhara Kahu, 18 in I-8, 15 in F-11, 14 in G-8, 13 each from G-13 and DHA-II, 11 from G-5, 10 each from G-9 and G-13, nine each from G-7, G-6 and F-6, seven each from Sihala and PWD, six from F-10, five each from I-10, F-8, Chak Shahzad and Bahria Town, four each from Rawal Town, Korang Town, H-10 and D-12, three each from Tarlai, I-12, Ghouri Town, G-15, F-7, E-11 and Banigala, two each were reported from Shah Allah Ditta, G-12 and F-5/1, one each from QAU Hostel, Media Town, Jhangi Syedan, I-9, Garden Town, Farash Town, E-9 and B-17.

Rawalpindi

Two persons died of Covid-19 and 30 tested positive on Friday with Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Umer among them.

He has isolated himself in his house. As many as 42 patients were also discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus.

Nari Gul, 74, a resident of a locality near Naz Cinema, was brought to Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on Nov 2 but died on Friday morning. Similarly, Jamshaid Sultan, 73, a resident of E-Block, who was brought to HFH on Nov 5, succumbed to the virus.

RMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Umer told Dawn that for the last two days he had fever after which he got himself tested and the results came back positive.

He then isolated himself but was continuing to work from home as his condition was stable.

Dr Umer said he called a meeting of the hospital heads and senior professors through video conference and asked them to prepare for a surge in Covid-19 in the region.

He said at present they were accommodating patients in Holy Family Hospital, but if the number increased further, they would make arrangements in other government-run hospitals of the garrison city.

As many as 7,853 people have contracted coronavirus in Rawalpindi district during the last eight months with 331 people dying and7,195 recovering.

At present, 327 patients were under treatment, including 41 in Holy Family Hospital. As many as 18 patients belonged to Rawalpindi district while 23 were from elsewhere. Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that 9,367 people had tested positive since March - 7,853 in Rawalpindi, 670 in Attock, 532 in Jhelum and 312 in Chakwal.

So far, 401 people had died in Rawalpindi Division with 331 in Rawalpindi, 21 in Attock, nine in Jhelum and 40 in Chakwal.

Taxila

The tehsil reported 12 more positive cases on Friday, raising the tally to 572.

According to the report issued by the local health department, Friday saw the second highest single day spike of Covid-19 cases during the second spell of the virus.

Deputy District Officer Health Dr Sara Qadeer said 11 patients were from Wah.

During the first spell of the virus, wards 6, 7 and 8 in Wah had remained the hotspots.

Responding to a question, Dr Qadeer said there were 85 active patients in the area and all were isolated in their homes. She said so far 465 patients had recovered.

Gujar Khan

Eight people contracted Covid-19 in Jhelum district on Friday.

According to CEO Health Jhelum Dr Waseem Iqbal, those who tested positive included teachers and students. Three schools were also sealed.

This is the highest number of cases recorded in a single day after three months in Jhelum.

The CEO said patients had been isolated in their homes while samples of other staffers and students were collected.

Dr Waseem said 13 schools and colleges had been sealed after cases were detected there with six having reopened since after necessary procedures.

The district health authorities are constantly monitoring the standard operating procedures and conducting random tests in educational institutions. However, the careless attitude adopted by citizens was worsening the situation, he added. — Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal & Hamid Asghar

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2020