ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI: After almost a 10-day gap, the capital reported more than 100 Covid-19 cases in a single day as 113 people tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, taking the tally to 14,315, sources told Dawn.

Officials of the capital administration said that last time 117 cases were reported on July 5.

There are 2,673 active cases in the capital after recovery of 11,486 patients and 156 deaths, they added.

A resident of Loi Bher also died from Covid-19, they added.

During the last 24 hours, 2,333 tests were conducted in the capital to trace the Covid-19 virus among the people, the stated adding that out of the total 113 were tested positive.

Nine positive cases were reported from G-9, seven from Tarlai, six each from Loi Bher, G-7, G-6, and Rawat, they said, adding the addresses of the six confirmed cases were not known.

Five cases each were reported from I-8, E-11 and G-10, followed by, four each from G-9, and Kurri, three each from I-10, F-6, G-13, Alipur, Shah Allah Ditta, two each from Bhara Kahu, G-11, Chak Shahzad, I-9, G-5, G-15, G-14, and H-12 and one each from Khanna, F-11, Sohan, F-8, F-10, F-5, F-17, F-13, Chirrah, Sihala, H-8, D-17, and E-13.

Rawalpindi

As many as six Covid-19 patients died, 95 recovered and 30 more tested positive for coronavirus in the garrison city on Wednesday.

Of the dead, four belonged to Rawalpindi district while two are from other districts but were under treatment at Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU). With the death of four more patients in the garrison city, the tally stood at 271 in the district.

After two days break, the number of Covid-19 patients in Rawalpindi district was increasing and with the arrival of 30 more patients in the hospitals, the total number of confirmed patients reached at 6,306.

Total 95 patients discharged from Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and those isolated in their houses.

As many as 976 confirmed patients are under treatment including 483 in hospitals and 493 at their homes.

Apart from this, 204 suspected patients were admitted to four hospitals of Rawalpindi city and their samples had been sent to National Institute of Health (NIH) and Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Holy Family Hospital laboratories for Covid-19 serology and their report will come after three to four days.

The local administration has also kept 6,535 close contacts of the confirmed patients in quarantine.

Meanwhile, the district administration sealed 12 shops in different markets of the garrison city on Wednesday for violating lockdown and imposed Rs35,000 fines on 22 shop owners.

Regional Transport Authority impounded 36 vehicles and imposed Rs47,000 fines on public transport for violating SOPs.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that the number of Covid-19 patients had increased after a few days break and there was dire need to create awareness among the people about safety measures.

He said special teams had been formed to check the violation of SOPs in the markets and bazaars as well as public places. He said that the prime minister’s tiger force was being used for an awareness campaign and people had started wearing masks in public places.

He said people should avoid taking children and elderly people to cattle markets for buying sacrificial animals. He said the cattle markets had been functional at the designated places of the district.

Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Health Yasmeen Rashid on Wednesday visited Benazir Bhutto Hospital to pay tribute to the administration, doctors, nurses, paramedics and support staff during the pandemic of Covid-19. The health minister appreciated the hard work done by the whole team.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2020