RAWALPINDI: Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) received 23 new suspected Covid-19 patients on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases in Rawalpindi district to 56 confirmed and 37 suspected.

There are 54 confirmed Covid-19 patients admitted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU). Among them are eight members of the Tableeghi Jamaat.

According to an official report, the results of 90 people were declared negative by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the results of seven are still awaited.

Local administrations are keeping 725 people in quarantine in three districts; 256 in Rawalpindi, 205 in Attock and 264 in Jhelum. Apart from this, 430 people have been isolated in their homes - 197 in Rawalpindi, 199 in Attock and 34 in Jhelum.

A senior divisional administration official told Dawn that a patient from Gujar Khan who died at BBH two days ago, was confirmed to have contracted Covid-19 according to a report received on Wednesday.

“Karam Dad arrived from the United Kingdom and died at BBH on Monday,” he said.

The official added that the administration does not plan to unseal four sealed localities in Rawalpindi city, while the health department and Rawalpindi Waste Management Company are working to disinfect those areas every day.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood said that the lockdown has been extended until April 14 and people have been asked to stay at home. District administrations has been directed to ensure the supply chain of food in their respective areas.

Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq and City Police Officer Ahsan Younis also visited various parts of the city to review the enforcement of government orders regarding shops and the lockdown.

They inquired about problems facing the public and informed them about precautionary measures to take to prevent the spread of Covid-19 while purchasing essential items. They also told people to practice social distancing while shopping.

They urged people not to leave their homes if they do not need to and to follow government orders for their safety. They said the timetable for grocery and general stores would be implemented.

Prisoners tested for Covid-19

Seven prisoners in Central Jail Adiala, two of them under-trial, were isolated with symptoms of cough and fever. Samples were taken to test them for Covid-19 on Wednesday.

Jail Superintendent Saqib Nazeer told Dawn that seven people in the prison were isolated after they complained of fever. Their swabs have been sent to a laboratory for PCR tests, he said. He added that two of the people moved to isolation are tuberculosis patients, another two have asthma and one person had a fever. Their reports are awaited.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2020