RAWALPINDI: Three more Covid-19 patients from Shakrial Union Council tested positive on Friday, taking the number of confirmed cases to 19 in Rawalpindi district.

As many as 16 patients were admitted to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) and one each in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), Military Hospital and Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) Hospital, Wah.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq told Dawn that all the patients were stable and doctors and paramedical staff were looking after them.

“These patients belonged to Shakrial, DAV College Road, Sadiqabad, Peshawar Road, Taxila, Kohat, Buner and other areas,” he said.

Tally of confirmed cases in Rawalpindi district stands at 19

“All the close contacts of these patients had been quarantined while some were kept in isolation in their houses. We are waiting for the results from National Institute of Health and if they tested positive for the disease they will be shifted to hospital,” he said.

The deputy commissioner said so far Dhoke Kashmirian and Dhoke Paracha have been sealed in Rawalpindi, adding that the government had clearly instructed to seal localities where more patients are found.

He said Rawalpindi Waste Management Company had been directed to disinfect the areas from where patients had arrived in the hospital, adding that the government was taking emergency measures to prevent and eradicate coronavirus.

Mr Haq said it was also the duty of citizens to play their role in ensuring compliance with the government directives to eliminate and prevent the spread of the virus.

He also said that there was no need of fear.

“Use masks, gloves and contact the helpline or the hospital immediately if symptoms show up to protect yourself and others from this disease,” he said.

Assistant Commissioner Headquarters Mohammad Iqbal Sanghera told Dawn that 32 people were kept in Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University and their results were awaited.

On the other hand, the district health authority took samples of three members of the family of patients from Shakrial and dispatched them to NIH.

“Three people, including two women, had been kept under observation at their home in isolation,” said a senior official of the health authority while talking to Dawn.

He said the screening of people continued in the district and work was not completed yet, adding that the government had directed that samples of all people who met the confirmed patients be collected.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2020