MURREE: After three new cases, Covid-19 cases in Murree reached 21. All positive patients are employees of a hotel, confirmed Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) Medical Superintendent Dr Abdul Salam.

Of the three new cases, one is a resident of Phagwarri, one of Kahya and one is a resident of Batgram, Dr Salam said, addingthat majority of cases out of the 21 have been shifted to Rawalpindi and three are admitted in the isolation ward for Covid-19 in THQ Murree.

He said7 suspects from different areas of Murree were brought to the hospital in the past 15 days but all tested negative for Covid-19.

According to sources,when the first case of Covid-19 was reported from the hotel more than 75 staff members were quarantined and tested.

The ones whose test results came out negative were allowed to go to their homes. Even now, about 55 people are quarantined in the hotel.

Out of the 75 staff members, 21 tested positive for the virus, they added.

When contacted, the hotel’s media director said that after closure of the hotel due to the lockdown, staff was reduced from 450 to 80, for security and maintenance of security lights in the hotel and provision of food to staff.

He said all members of the staff were tested and the 21 who tested positive were shifted to hospitals in Murree and Rawalpindi.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2020