• Adolescents aged 15 to 17 years advised to bring B Forms for vaccination today
• WHO, capital administration to launch ‘Wear a Mask - Protect Pakistan’ campaign
• Positivity ratio drops in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: The federal capital reported less than 2,000 weekly cases after a gap of six weeks while Rawalpindi district saw a slight drop in Covid-19 positivity ratio on Sunday.

On the other hand, adolescents in the age group of 15 to 17 years have been advised to visit vaccination centres in F-9 Park and Tarlai along with their B Forms as inoculation drive targeting teenagers in the mentioned age bracket starts on Monday (today).

Moreover, the World Health Organisation (WHO), in collaboration with the Islamabad district health authorities, will be launching a campaign titled ‘Wear a Mask - Protect Pakistan’.

According to data of the health authorities, 270 more people were found infected by the virus in the last 24 hours. However, there was a decrease in the number of weekly cases as less than 2,000 patients surfaced after a gap of six weeks.

According to a document, 956 cases were reported in last week of July - 19th to 25th - after which the figure rose above 2,000 in a week. In the second week of August - 9th to 15th - 3,280 cases were reported, while last week 1,859 people got infected compared to 2,020 a week earlier.

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia said though the positivity rate was hovering between 5pc to 6pc, the trend was on the rise as the ratio had increased from 5.36pc to 5.81pc.

He said Islamabad had become the first city whose 50pc population was fully vaccinated while 71pc had received at least one dose.

Replying to a question as to why there were so many critical patients in the hospitals of the capital, Dr Zia said the reason was because majority of the patients were from outside the city.

He said children between 15 to 17 years would be administered Pfizer vaccine which would be available in F-9 Park and Tarlai vaccination centres.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan will inaugurate ‘Wear a Mask - Protect Pakistan’ campaign along with WHO Country Representative Dr Palitha Mahipala at the organisation’s office in Chak Shahzad on Monday (today).

“We would like to take this opportunity to inform you that WHO Country Office, Pakistan, in collaboration with the district health authorities, Islamabad, is launching a mask wearing campaign with the slogan, ‘Wear a Mask - Protect Pakistan’. The launching ceremony of the campaign is being held on Monday at 9am,” the world health body’s statement said.

“The WHO will hand over masks to the federal and district health authorities including NIH, Pims, Health Services Academy, ICT and Islamabad police. Taking advantage of the launching ceremony, we have also organised handing over of other supplies, equipment and vehicle to federal health authorities, including Drap, Centre Health Establishment and Nutrition Division, Ministry of National Health Services,” it added.

Rawalpindi

The district saw a slight drop in Covid-19 positivity ratio on Sunday as 93 new patients surfaced and one casualty was reported in a single day.

The infection rate stood at 6.64pc which was less than the 7.73pc recorded the previous day. As many as 153 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovering.

A total of 1,400 samples were collected in the last 24 hours out of which results of 93 people came back positive.

According to the district administration’s data, Zarka Bibi, 33, was brought to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences from Gujar Khan on Sept 11 where she died on Sunday.

There are 2,193 active patients in the district, with 185 admitted to hospitals and 2,008 isolated at home.

Out of the total patients admitted to hospitals, 23 were under treatment in Holy Family Hospital, 45 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, 66 were being treated in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, five patients were in District Headquarters Hospital, 35 were admitted to Fauji Foundation Hospital, four patients were in Bilal Hospital, three patients each were in Hearts International Hospital and Attock Hospital while one was under treatment in Akhtar Rukhsana Memorial Welfare Trust Hospital.

As many as 22 patients arrived from the cantonment areas, 23 were from the city areas and 19 came from Potohar Town. Similarly, seven patients were brought from Kallar Syedan, five from Kotli Sattian, one each from Kahuta and Murree, 10 from Gujar Khan, two each from Taxila and Jhelum and one from Chakwal.

There are five patients on ventilator in Rawalpindi, 95 required oxygen assistance and 85 are stable.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2021