TAXILA: The number of confirmed coronavirus (Covid-19) patients in Attock reached 29, as two new cases of local transmission were reported on Tuesday.

According to focal person for Covid-19 Dr Asif Arbab Niazi, a 16-year-old girl and a 30-year-old man tested positive for the disease.

“The girl was shifted to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital and the man was shifted to a quarantine centre established at Wapda office in Dhoke Fateh. Both cases are relatives of 72-year-old Zaibunnisa, resident of Awanabad Mohallah, who died of Covid-19 on Friday,” he said.

Responding to a question, he said majority of the positive patients were admitted to Covid-19 isolation wards set up at the DHQ hospital and quarantine centres in different parts of the district.

Out of the 29 confirmed cases majority are of local transmission, he said, adding police have been deputed in different areas to restrict public movement.

He said suspected cases in the district rose to 302 on Tuesday while results of 78 people are awaited. Nine patients are under treatment in various centres while 17 are in different quarantine centres, he said, adding so far in Attock 73 suspected cases from the Tableeghi Jamaat were quarantined.

“Six out of them tested positive, 51 were negative while results of 16 are awaited,” he said.

Responding to another question, he said 51 members of the Tableeghi Jamaat were sent back to their respective areas after being quarantined and tested while arrangements are being made to send 11 others back to their respective towns as they completed their quarantine period.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2020