ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: There was a record rise in Covid-19 cases in Islamabad, with 104 patients testing positive for the disease. A patient has also died.

Prior to this, the highest number of cases reported in a single day was 63 cases on May 14.

Capital administration officials said 228 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the capital since Monday.

The officials said that the spread of the coronavirus and its attack rate are gradually increasing among the public, making for an alarming situation.

They said that the sense of responsibility and the adoption of safety measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 have fallen sharply among the public. Instead, people are roaming markets and commercial centres unconcerned about the serious and unbearable situation that could arise in coming days.

The officials said that the coronavirus is spreading because people are not practicing social distancing.

District Health Officer Dr Zaheem Zia told Dawn that a Covid-19 patient from Jhangi Syedan died on Wednesday. He said she was also a cancer patient and was above the age of 60.

Of the 104 new cases, 12 were reported from I-10, 10 from G-6, eight each from Bhara Kahu, and G-13, seven from Shah Allah Ditta, six each from G-7, I-9 and Tarlai, four each from E-11, G-11, G-8 and I-8, two each from F-6, G-5 and G-9, and one each from Alipur, Chirah, D-12, D-15, F-10, F-5, F-7, G-10, G-12, G-14, I-14, Khanna, Kirpa, Phulgran, Lohi Bher, Rawal Town, Sihala, Sohan and Tarnol.

Two dead in Rawalpindi

Two patients died and 46 more tested positive for Covid-19 in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, while 19 people were discharged after recovering from the disease.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Rawalpindi is now 1,872. A total of 75 people have died and 527 have recovered. There are 442 people being treated in hospitals and 829 isolated in their homes.

A 78-year-old woman who lived in Mandra and was brought to the Military Hospital on May 18 died late that night, while a 54-year-old man who lived in Mughlabad and was brought to the Combined Military Hospital on May 16 died on Wednesday.

Another 490 suspected patients were brought to Rawalpindi’s three hospitals and their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) laboratory.

The number of Covid-19 patients in the district is increasing, District Health Authority CEO Dr Suhail Ahmed said. He said that testing at NIH has been slow for the last two days, which is why fewer new patients have been reported.

Although laboratories have been set up in BBH and Holy Family Hospital, he said, they do not have the capacity to provide test results on the same day.

A total of 422 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last few days and 1,229 have tested negative.

Dr Ahmed said that cases of home isolation are increasing, and people need to avoid leaving their homes unnecessarily and visiting markets, or the number of patients may increase in the coming days.

Of the 1,303 passengers returning from abroad who have been quarantined at dedicated facilities, 107 have tested positive so far.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that markets and bazaars are being monitored by special health and district administration teams. Warnings have been issued to barber shops and salons to take precautions or they will face strict action.

He said that since shopping centres were opened, bazaars have been busier and the administrations of all four districts have been told to ensure standard operating procedures (SOP) are implemented in all bazaars.

New cases in Gujar Khan

Gujar Khan saw a record rise in Covid-19 patients on Wednesday with 22 people testing positive for the disease.

As of Wednesday, Gujar Khan tehsil has reported at least 113 cases, with 10 deaths and 44 recoveries.

Health sources said that Wednesday saw the highest number of Covid-19 cases reported in a single day in Gujar Khan so far.

Deputy District Health Officer Dr Umar Farooq said that of these, 10 were reported from Ward No.2, five from Ward No.11, four from Mankiala Muslim village, one from the Gujar Khan Technical College and two from Gujar Khan city.

Dr Farooq said that the city branch of a private bank has also been sealed after its manager, a city resident, tested positive for Covid-19.— Additional reporting by Hamid Asghar

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2020