ISLAMABAD: While the number of Covid-19 cases reached 102 in the federal capital, Bhara Kahu and Tarlai emerged as areas from where most of the cases have been reported.

Moreover, G-8 topped the areas with most of the suspected cases (69), whose samples were sent to lab from different hospitals. The only death from the virus in the capital has been reported from Rawat area.

An official of the National Institute of Health (NIH) said as per data till Wednesday night, 565 people had been declared suspected Covid-19 patients in Islamabad and 92 of them tested positive.

“Most of the confirmed cases, 19, came from Bhara Kahu followed by nine from Tarlai and seven from I-10,” he said.

“As many as six cases each were reported from Shahzad Town and G-8. Overall, five cases were reported from G-10, four each from Loi Bher and I-11 and three cases each were reported from G-6 and F-8,” he said.

The official claimed that two cases each were reported from G-5, G-11, F-6, E-11, Alipur, Rawat and Kirpa. One case each was reported from G-13, I-8, I-9, Rawal Town, Sihala and Model Town Humak.

Five more residential areas sealed after 16 confirmed cases from there

“Overall, 100 people having unknown addresses were tested and six of them tested positive for the virus. Besides, 2,325 Pakistanis who returned from abroad and had unknown addresses tested negative,” he said.

“The suspected patients who were tested but found not carriers of the virus belonged to B-17, E-7, E-9, F-5, F-7, F-10, F-11, G-7, G-9, G-12, G-14, G-15, H-8, H-9, H-11, H-13, Bari Imam, Koral, Kurri, Sohan, Chirrah, Phulgiran, Pindbegwal, Gokina, Khanna Pul, Jhangi Syedan, Sangjani, Tarnol, Saidpur and Shah Allah Ditta.”

The official said 10 more cases were confirmed in Islamabad on Thursday but their data would be compiled on Friday (today).

Meanwhile, an official of the district administration said they were perturbed over the decision of the government that most of the flights would land at Islamabad International Airport (IIA).

“Passengers are sent to hotels and quarantine centres. Though we do our best to accommodate them some of them can never be satisfied. A large number of the passengers, who come from abroad, want breakfast, lunch and dinner of their choice. If bread is given to them, they start demanding Paratha along with a number of curries with light spices and some ask for spicy food,” he said.

“We have finally decided that only one dish such as rice (chicken polao) would be given free of cost and if they want something else they will have to pay for it,” he said.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat said the passengers were quite happy as the district administration try to meet all their requirements.

“I have videos of a number of passengers who showed satisfaction over the arrangements. It is a time of crisis and we hope that soon it would pass,” he said.

Five more localities sealed

Five more residential areas were sealed on Thursday after confirmation of positive cases there.

Four of the areas are located in Tramri and the other is near Irfanabad. Pakistan Amry, Rangers and Police were asked to cordon off the areas.

The houses of the confirmed patients were also sealed and declared quarantine for their families.

Officials said details were being collected from the confirmed patients to establish from where they had contracted the virus.

Bhara Kahu, Shahzad Town unsealed

The capital administration on Thursday unsealed Bhara Kahu and Shahzad Town after the district health office cleared the areas. Kot Hathyal of Bhara Kahu was sealed on March 24 and on March 27 Bhara Kahu was completely sealed after 19 confirmed cases from there.

Shahzad Town and Rimsha Colony at H-9 were sealed on March 27 after eight and two cases were confirmed there, respectively.

A notification said on the recommendation of the district health office and after a detailed survey the two areas are unsealed.

However, Bilal Masjid, Makki Masjid and adjourning areas in Kot Hathyal will remain locked down. Street No 6 in Shahzad Town will also continue to be locked down.

The de-sealed areas will be regulated by Section 144 issued on March 23 and amended from time to time, it added.

The deputy commissioner told Dawn that screening of people residing in these areas had been completed.

Separate areas of Tramri and Irfanabad were sealed after 16 people residing there tested positive, he said.

He said out of the 102 positive cases in the capital, 85 were kept in their houses.

The condition of these confirmed patients is stable and teams of doctors were visiting them regularly. The other patients are kept in hospitals as their condition is critical, he added.

Over 500 people are kept at the 14 quarantine centres established in different buildings, including hotels, Mr Shafqaat said, adding two flights each from London and Manchester arrived in the capital while another flight from Toronto was awaited.

Moreover, the administration also lifted the ban on opening of outpatient departments in hospitals. The ban on dry cleaning and laundry shops was also lifted.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2020