ISLAMABAD: The federal capital is well ahead of other federating units when it comes to conducting Covid-19 tests. While the countrywide tests per million population (PMP) have been recorded at 28,428, Islamabad has conducted 370,266 tests.

On the other hand, 2,362 new cases and 36 deaths were reported on Monday with 346 ventilators in use across the country.

According to a document of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), available with Dawn, the number of lab tests conducted across the country was 28,428 PMP. However, there was a difference between the federating units in terms of tests conducted.

The data showed that Islamabad topped with 370,266 tests, followed by Sindh with 44,862 and Gilgit-Baltistan 39,941 tests PMP.

NCOC data shows national positivity ratio stands at 7.42pc; Punjab sees decline in deaths, cases

In Azad Kashmir, 22,598 tests PMP and in Punjab 19,914 tests PMP were conducted. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the number of tests carried out were 19,057 whereas in Balochistan, the number was only 12,467. Besides, total labs across the country conducting Covid-19 tests were 134 and the daily capacity was 58,923.

According to NCOC, 64pc of ventilators were occupied in Multan, 47pc in Islamabad, Lahore, 36pc and in Rawalpindi, 28pc vents were in use. However, there was no patient on ventilator in Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan.

Oxygen beds occupancy data showed that in Peshawar 61pc of the beds were in use, the ratio was 56pc in Rawalpindi, Multan, 50pc and 44pc beds were occupied in Islamabad.

The total number of active cases, which was less than 6,000 in September, has reached 47,236 as of Dec 14.

The NCOC data further showed that 3,014 patients were admitted to 613 hospitals with Covid-19 facilities across the country.

The national positivity ratio was recorded at 7.42pc with Karachi reporting 16.06pc, Peshawar, 15.86pc and Abbottabad, 13.64pc.

Meanwhile, compared to Sunday’s statistics, Punjab witnessed a sharp decline in the number of Covid-19 deaths and new cases.

According to official figures released by the Punjab government on Monday, coronavirus had claimed lives of 14 patients while 329 people tested positive. The number of deaths and new cases on Sunday was 31 and 686, respectively.

Commenting on the ‘sudden’ decline in deaths and new cases, medical experts said the figures were not surprising since the data was monitored on the basis of persistent decrease during at least two weeks or so.

According to Monday’s official figures, out of the total new positive cases, 143 were reported in Lahore, 34 in Rawalpindi and 27 in Bahawalpur.

Other cases were reported in Mandi Bahauddin, Jhang, Multan, Bhakkar, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Sialkot, Khushab, Layyah, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Narowal, Gujrat, Kasur, Okara, Hafizabad, Chiniot, Gujranwala, Rahimyar Khan, Khanewal, Nankana Sahib, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran, Jhelum, Mianwali and Muzaffargarh.

The total number of positive cases in Punjab reached 127,541 while 3,365 were reported, the official update stated.

Islamabad

Five more deaths along with 261 new cases were reported in the capital on Monday.

Officials said the positivity rate increased to 6.39pc compared to 4.67pc on Sunday.Of the total 4,080 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, 211 were the contacts of confirmed cases and 3,869 suspected patients. Moreover, 14 more patients were hospitalised in the last 24 hours.

The patients, who died of the disease, were residents of Bhara Kahu, Tarlai, Rawat, F-7 and Kurri.

The officials said 36 cases were reported from Loi Bher, 16 from E-11, 15 from Bhara Kahu, 12 from I-8, 11 from G-8, 10 from G-6, nine each from G-11, F-8, eight each from Rawat, F-10, Alipur, Sihala, seven from Chak Shahzad, Kurri, Koral, six each from G-10, G-13, F-7, five each from Tarlai, G-9, F-6, E-7, four each from G-7, F-11, I-10, Sohan, G-15, B-17, three each from Kirpa, I-11, two each from H-13, Chirrah, H-8, Jhangi Sydan, F-14 and one each from Khann, G-5, I-9, Rawal Town, Model Town Humak, Tarnol, Bari Imam, Phulgran, E-8, Gokina, and Shah Allahditta.

About 289 patients are admitted to 15 hospitals and the condition of 38 of them is stable, 105 patients are on low flow oxygen, 106 on high flow oxygen and 40 on ventilators.

At present, there are 6,224 active cases and 5,935 of them are isolated/quarantined at their homes or elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the capital administration sealed a school at E-16 after it was found open.

Attock

Two more people succumbed to Covid-19 in Attock on Monday.

According to statistics released by the health authorities, the patients who died have been identified as Perveen Akhtar, 60, a resident of Hazro, and Farooq Sultan, a resident of Attock city.

The number of positive patients who have died of Covid-19 this month so far has risen to four.

Two positive and eight suspected patients are under treatment at the District Headquarters Hospital Attock.

According to the health department, there are 145 active patients in the district out of which 78 belong to Attock, 23 to Hazro, 19 to Fatehjang, 13 to Pindigheb, eight to Hassanabdal and four to Jand.

Gujar Khan

Four more people tested positive in Gujar Khan on Monday.

Focal person Mohammad Yousaf told Dawn that 615 people had so far contracted the virus out of whom 460 had recovered. The number of active cases in the tehsil has reached 93 with 62 victims having lost their lives.

He further said no patient of Covid-19 was under treatment in hospitals and were isolated in their homes.Two localities have also been put under smart lockdown.

In Jhelum, one person succumbed to the virus while another got infected on Monday, said CEO Health Dr Waseem Iqbal.

The CEO said 38,257 people had been screened for the virus out of whom 859 tested positive.

He said 19suspected and 10 confirmed patients had been isolated in DHQ Hospital Jhelum while the rest had been isolated in their homes.

As many as 13 people have lost their lives due to Covid-19 in the district.

• Amjad Iqbal, Hamid Asghar & Asif Chaudhry from Lahore also contributed to this story

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2020