ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: Three Covid-19 patients died and 136 positive cases emerged in the capital while Rawalpindi reported 144 new positive cases and three deaths on Thursday.

The death toll from the virus in the capital rose to 22 while the tally of confirmed cases reached 2015 from 1879.

The three people who died of the disease were the residents of I-10, G-8 and Sohan. Two of them were kept at Pims.

Another patient, who was a resident of other district, died at a private hospital. So far, 74 patients have died in the capital, including 19 local residents.

Three residents of Islamabad died in other districts after contracting the virus.

As per details provided by the authorities of the district administration, 17 cases were reported from Loi Bher, 15 from G-13, 12 from I-8, eight from Rawat, seven from G-10, G-8, five from F-15, F-8, G-9, Khanna, four from F-6, G-11, G-7, three from E-11, Tarnol, two cases each from Alipur, Bhara Kahu, Chak Shahzad, F-11, G-15, H-13, I-9, Saidpur, one case each from B-17, Bari Imam, F-7, I-10, Model Town, G-5 and G-6.

Rawalpindi

As many as 144 patients tested positive and three patients died of coronavirus in Rawalpindi while 40 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovering.

On the other hand, reports of 782 patients are still pending and they are admitted to government-run hospitals in the Rawalpindi district.

A 70-years-old resident of Khayaban-i-Sir Syed who was brought to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) on May 27 died on Thursday.

A woman from Shaheen Colony, aged 23, was shifted to the RIU on May 27 where she died on Wednesday night.

Another 70-year-old woman belonging to Khayaban-i-Tanveer died at the RIU where she was admitted on May 28.

The number of confirmed patients in Rawalpindi district reached 2378 while 89 people have died and 934 patients discharged after recovery.

At present, 1355 confirmed patients are under treatment, including 463 in four government-run hospitals. Besides, 892 patients are isolated in their houses as they had no symptoms of the disease. Apart from this, 782 suspected patients were also brought to three hospitals and their samples have been sent to National Institute of Health (NIH) and Benazir Bhutto Hospital laboratory but the reports are awaited.

Total 47 passengers who returned from different countries tested positive and have been kept on quarantine.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that the coming week was crucial as the government would take a decision regarding the lockdown as it was monitoring the surge in Covid-19 patients and deaths.

He said four districts of Rawalpindi division would prepare reports about hotspot areas in their respective areas soon. He said on the basis of the reports a plan would be made to impose restrictions.

Meanwhile, four station house officers (SHOs) along with 15 other police officials have tested positive for Covid-19 in Rawalpindi District. SHO Ratta Amral was the latest victim to the disease and is now quarantined at home.

After SHO Ratta Amral tested positive, swab tests of the station’s entire staff were taken. Talking to Dawn, City Police Officer Mohammad Ahsan Younas said that there were four SHOs and 15 other police officials, who tested positive for the virus in Rawalpindi.

“All those who tested positive were isolated in their respective homes. It has been decided that swab tests of all police personnel will be conducted. Each police station’s staff will be tested for coronavirus per day,” he said.— Additional reporting by Mohammad Asghar

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2020