RAWALPINDI: Three more people have tested positive for Covid-19 and were admitted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) on Saturday, while three streets in Chungi No. 22 were sealed for 14 days because two of the patients were from the area.

Altogether six streets in Rawalpindi city and the cantonment areas have been sealed for a fortnight. Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) spokesperson toldDawnthat two patients tested positive at a filter clinic and were moved to RIU.

“Three streets in Chungi No. 22 have been sealed for 14 days to prevent the spread of the [coronavirus] in the area,” he said.

In the city, the district administration sealed three streets in Noorani Mohallah, in Sarafa Bazaar, after a patient was detected there. The patient’s relatives have been isolated at home and the administration has attached a sticker to their front wall.

The number of Covid-19 patients in Rawalpindi district has risen to 70, and the number rose to 104 in the four districts that make up Rawalpindi division.

According to official figures, there are 70 confirmed patients in Rawalpindi district, 28 in Jhelum, three in Chakwal and one in Attock. In Rawalpindi 52 of the confirmed patients have been admitted to RIU, while the rest are at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Combined Military Hospital and six are isolated at home. None of the patients have been discharged yet.

Local administrations have also quarantined 733 people in three districts - 264 in Rawalpindi, 264 in Jhelum and 205 in Attock. There are 458 people isolated at home - 200 in Attock, 134 in Rawalpindi and 34 in Jhelum. A total of 24 people in Attock were released after none of them showed any symptoms after 14 days.

In addition, 483 members of the Tableeghi Jamaat have been isolated in Rawalpindi, including 304 preachers in mosques, 141 in quarantine centres and 93 at home.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood has asked the district administration to speed up the disinfecting of streets and main roads in respective areas. He has also directed for the Punjab government’s directives regarding a lockdown to be implemented and to ensure that shops close at 5pm.

Governments have permitted pharmacies to open, but owners should take precautions for staff and customers and disinfect the stores twice a day, he said. Reports of price hikes will not be tolerated and action will be taken against shopkeepers and officials if complaints are received from their respective areas.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq said lockdown directives have been implemented and thanked traders for cooperating with the administration regarding 5pm shop closures.

He said wheat flour is being sold at 19 points in the city and 26 in the district, adding that there is no shortage of wheat flour and other edible items because the administration is monitoring the supply chain of food in the district.

“Hoarding and price hikes will not be tolerated and shopkeepers should charge the original price in this difficult time,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2020