TAXILA: A new case of Covid-19 was reported in Attock on Sunday, taking the district’s tally to 50, according to the health department.

In a statement issued on Sunday, District Focal Person for Covid-19 Dr Asif Arbab Niazi confirmed registration of a case in Hazro tehsil. The tehsil, after Fatehjang, has became a hotspot of Covid-19 patients. With one death reported, the number of positive patients in the area is increasing with each passing day.

“The man, who be longs to Shahkhail area, returned from Karachi recently. Three of his family members were tested, after developing symptoms of Covid-19. One of them tested positive and was shifted to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Attock,” he said, adding that it was confirmed that the man was Covid-19 positive as well.

Assistant Commissioner Maleeha Essar said: “Chlorination of the area is being carried out bythe municipal committee staff for disinfection. The local administration has quarantined the area, by placing barricades and warning banners at entry and exit points of the street.”

Responding to a question, Mr Niazi confirmed that the number of suspected patients also rose to 1,078.

“So far, screening of 3,411 people has been carried out in the area; 761 tested negative while results of 267 are yet to be received,” he said.

He said nine positive patients are under treatment at various health facilities, while 24 quarantined across the district, are in stable condition. Most positive cases are of local transmission in the district, he added.

Policemen tested

The district administration and health department authorities on Sunday initiated screening and testing of policemen, deployed for security duty at various quarantine centres of the district.

According to a police spokesman, there are 14 different quarantine centres in the district, where a large number of policemen have been deployed for round the clock security duty.

District Police Officer Khalid Hamdani said: “Although these policemen don’t have symptoms of coronavirus, however in connection to precautionary measures, all staff members deployed at these centres will be tested in the best interest of police force and their family members.”

The purpose of this screening is to ensure health of Attock’s police personnel, who are playing a vital role in the present situation, he said,adding with the assistance of health department, over 50 police officials have been tested in Attock and Hazro and others will be tested in the coming days.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2020