ISLAMABAD: A slight drop was seen in the Covid-19 weekly positivity ratio in the capital however two people succumbed to the disease in Islamabad and Rawalpindi districts on Saturday as 81 people were diagnosed withthe disease.

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia said that the weekly positivity rateduring the current week was 1.4pc, as compared to 1.7pc during the last week, decreased by 0.3pc . The weekly positivity ratio between Feb 14 and 20 was 2.3pc, 5pc between Feb 7 and 13 and 10.2pc between Jan 31 and Feb 6, the DHO said, adding efforts are underway to contain the weekly positivity rate during the next week too.

One of the deceased was identifiedasNaseem Akhter, 53, resident of Gujar Khan. She was brought to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on March 4. Accordingto officials of the capital administration, the other deceased was a male patient (50-59), a resident of G-7.

The status of vaccination in the capital is far better which is why during the current wave of the virus the death toll was very low, he added.

During the last 24 hours 3,254 tests were conducted in the capital with thedaily positivity ratio recorded at 1.9pc.

Officials said 13 cases each were reported in the age group of 30-39 and 40-49, followed by nine in 10-19, eight each in 20-29 and 50-59, six in 60-69, five in 0-9, and one each in 70-79 and 80 and above.

Likewise, six cases were reported from Lohi Bher, followed by four from Rawat, three each from F-11, F-6, F-10 and E-11, and one each from G-10, I-8, G-7, E-7, G-15 and G-14, the officials said, adding addresses of 34 cases were not known.

There are currently 461 active cases in the capital. As many as 45 patients are admitted in hospitals, including 41 who are on oxygen support and three on ventilators.The rest are quarantined in their houses.

Meanwhile, in Rawalpindi district, the positivity ratio was traced at 1.08pc. As many as 1,571 samples were collected out of which 1,554 were declared negative.

There are 184 active patients in the district. As many as 11 patients are in hospitals and 173 are home isolated.

Five of the new patients were reported from city areas and six from Potohar Town. One patient was reported from Gujar Khan and one patient each arrived from Abbottabad, Chakwal, Gujrat and Islamabad.

There are 11 patients admitted in different hospitals of Rawalpindi city including two at Benazir Bhutto Hospital while one patient each is in Holy Family Hospital, Bilal Hospital and Fauji Foundation Hospital respectively whereas seven patients are in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology.

There is one patient on a ventilator in Rawalpindi, nine patients are on oxygen support and one is stable.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2022