ISLAMABAD: As the number of cases and the positivity rate increased gradually, 15 more localities of Islamabad along with a school were sealed to prevent further spread of the virus.

In the district of Rawalpindi, 50 per cent of the population aged 18 years and above has been vaccinated against Covid-19 while a campaign is underway at the union council level to achieve the target of 70pc.

Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat said the 15 localities were sealed on the recommendation of the District Health Office (DHO).

A notification issued from the office of the DC said on the recommendation of the DHO and on the basis of surveillance activities these areas will have controlled entry and exit with effect from August 12.

The areas are National Institute of Health Staff Colony Shahzad Town quarter number 5 to 14, Block 12/16, G-9/2, School Road and Street No 39 F-6/1, Street No 1, 5 and 85 of I-8/4, Street No 53 of G-10/3, Street No 40 G-6/1, Street No 23 Rawal Town, Street No 41 G-9/1, Street No 34 and 40 G-7/2 and Street No 16 and 52 Sector F-11/2, it added.

“Exemptions to this order include essential services and supplies like pharmacy and medicine shops, grocery stores and bakeries, patients for medical aid and consultation, rationing, drinking water supplies, utilities and emergency,”the notification said.

50pc of eligible population vaccinated against virus in Rawalpindi district

The citizens are requested to make prior arrangements for their convenience, including ration, medicines and reschedule their engagements and office work before the onset of the lockdown/sealing date and time.

The police were requested to cordon off the areas in order to ensure public safety and eliminate further spread of the virus, it said, adding the concerned assistant commissioner will ensure provision of essential commodities and food supplies in the sealed areas.

The DHO will ensure complete vaccination in the sealed areas, it added.

Furthermore, a school was sealed in the capital after two cases of Covid-19 were traced there.

A notification issued from the office of DHO Dr Mohammad Zaeem Zia said two cases of Covid-19 have been reported on contact tracing at Islamabad Model School G-7/1. It is advised to immediately close down the school premises till further intimation and disinfection activities as per the guidelines issued by Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination.

Furthermore, Covid-19 testing of all exposed students and staff must be performed and adherence to the SOPs must be ensured, the notification said.

Meanwhile, two more deaths from Covid-19 along with 561 new cases were reported in the capital on Thursday.

Officials said the death of a woman was reported in the age group of 40-49 while a male patient in the age group of 70-79 also passed away. They were the residents of Sohan and Tarnol.

During the last 24 hours, 5,421 tests were conducted and 561 people were found infected with a 10.34pc positivity rate.

Rawalpindi

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Ehsan Ghani during an official briefing in the district of Rawalpindi, 50 per cent of the population aged 18 years and above has been vaccinated against Covid-19 while a campaign is underway at the union council level to achieve the target of 70pc.

He said according to the statistics of the health department the population of the district aged 18 years and above was around three million and 1.5 million of it had been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Rawalpindi is one of the eight districts of Punjab where the Covid-19 vaccination drive is being carried out at the union council level.

Meanwhile, one person died and 293 people contracted the virus in the district on Thursday. Moreover, 140 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery from the virus in the last 24 hours.

The positivity rate in the district has decreased to 14.44pc, which was 18pc on Aug 4.

Salma Jabeen, 38, a resident of Dhamial Camp, was brought to Fauji Foundation Hospital on August 11 where she died.

There are 2,168 active patients, 222 in hospitals and 1,946 home isolated.

Officials said 81 of the new patients arrived from the city areas, 51 from cantonment, 56 from Potohar Town, 14 from Kahuta, six from Taxila, five from Gujar Khan, nine from Kotli Sattian and four from Kallar Syedan. Besides, eight patients each arrived from Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, three from Attock, two from Chakwal and one each from Jhelum, Karachi and Mianwali.

Of the new patients, 48 were admitted in Holy Family Hospital, 35 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), 73 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), four in District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, 50 in Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH), four patients each in Hearts International Hospital and Bilal Hospital and two each in Begum Akhter Sultana Trust Hospital and Attock Hospital.

There are six patients on ventilators, 130 are on oxygen and 84 are stable.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2021