ISLAMABAD: A significant decrease was seen in the new Covid-19 confirmed cases in the capital as 21 people tested positive on Thursday compared to 76 on Wednesday.

On June 14, as many as 771 positive cases were reported in the capital and 635 cases on June 15.

Out of the total 21 confirmed cases reported on Thursday, six were male. Three of the cases were reported from I-8, two from G-6, one each from Chak Shahzad, Tarlai, Tramri, Iqbal Town, Shakrial, CBR Town, PWD, G-13, H-13, H-11, G-7, G-10, F-5, F-11, E-11 and Bhara Kahu.

With these new cases, the tally in the capital reached 14,722, said officials, adding so far 12,023 patients have recovered and 162 passed away. Currently, there are 2,537 active cases in the capital.

Meanwhile, the capital administration imposed fines worth Rs23,500 on shopkeepers for violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued to prevent the spread of the virus. Besides, five hotels were also sealed.

The administration also took action against profiteers and imposed Rs11,000 fines on them.

Rawalpindi

The number of new cases has been reducing in the garrison city for the last three days as 14 patients tested positive on Thursday, 132 were discharged with no death.

With the emergence of the new patients, the tally in the district reached 6,458. Among them, 5,737 have recovered and 274 have died of the disease while 447 patients are still admitted in hospitals.

At present, 447 confirmed patients are under treatment - 217 in hospitals and 230 patients isolated in their houses.

Apart from this, 95 suspected patients are admitted in four hospitals and their samples have been sent to National Institute of Health (NIH), Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Holy Family Hospital laboratories and results are awaited.

Total 6,585 close relatives of the confirmed patients are quarantined in their houses.

According to an official report, in the last six weeks 5,120 patients were reported in the district and 3,456 of them tested positive, 1,487 negative and the results of 177 are awaited.

As many as 5,016 patients were reported in the Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas, 260 in Gujar Khan, 300 in Taxila, 81 in Kahuta, 60 in Kotli Sattian, 51 in Murree and 46 in Kallar Syedan.

On the other hand, in the four districts of Rawalpindi division, 7,714 people tested positive, 6742 patients were discharged and 339 died of the disease.

As many as 633 patients are admitted in government hospitals in the districts of Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Jhelum while 396 patients are isolated in their houses.

Meanwhile, 12 shops were sealed in Raja Bazaar and adjoining markets for violating the SOPs and Rs47,000 fines imposed on 26 shopkeepers.

Moreover, 11 vehicles were impounded and the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) imposed Rs27,000 fines on public transporters for violating SOPs while eight vehicleowners were issued warnings.

Attock

The number of positive cases also showed a downward trend in Attock as no new case was reported in the district during the last 24 hours while six patients recovered.

According to district focal person for Covid-19 Dr Asif Arbab Niazi, the tally of cases remained 554.

He said four cases were detected on Thursday last, five on Friday, seven on Saturday, one on Sunday, two on Monday, four on Tuesday and four Wednesday.

Taxila

A positive patient, aged 55 years, from Lalarukh died raising the tally to 19 on Thursday.

The number of confirmed patients in the tehsil stood at 402 on Thursday. Deputy district officer health Dr Sara Qadeer said among the 402 positive patients 73 were home isolated while 17 were under treatment in different hospitals.

She said so far 294 patients have recovered from the virus in Taxila and Wah. She said one case was reported on Tuesday (July-14), one on Wednesday, three on Thursday, no case on Friday, four on Saturday, no case on Sunday, one case on Monday, six cases on Tuesday, two cases on Wednesday while no case was reported on Thursday (today). — Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2020