ISLAMABAD: Only three new positive cases of Covid-19 were reported in Rawalpindi while there was a slight increase in the confirmed cases in the capital where 54 people tested positive on Tuesday.

Officials of the capital administration said 20 positive cases were reported on Sunday followed by 43 on Monday and 54 on Tuesday.

Out of the total 54 patients, 21 were women. During the last 24 hours, 1,266 Covid-19 tests were conducted in the city.

On Tuesday, 17 cases were reported from Loi Bher followed by four from E-11, three from G-13, two each from G-9, I-8, G-6, Tarlai, Khanna, F-8, Rawat, F-7 and Sihala, one each from G-10, G-11, F-11, Sohan, Alipur, I-9, G-15, H-13, Tarnol, Model Town and H-8.

The number of active cases increased to 2,396. Since the outbreak, 14,938 positive cases were reported in the capital. So far, 181,331 tests have been conducted.

Number of critical patients reduces in Rawalpindi hospitals, says senior official

The officials said 12,377 virus-affected people have recovered and 165 others died.

Meanwhile, the capital administration sealed three shops for violating the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs). Besides, Rs6,000 fines were imposed on shopkeepers and Rs1,500 on individuals for violating the SOPs.

Rawalpindi

With the emergence of only three patients, the number of critical patients reduced in hospitals as only three patients were on ventilators and 14 on oxygen in the Rawalpindi district.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood said there were 24 patients in the high dependency units of the four hospitals - three on ventilators, 14 on oxygen and seven are stable.

“As many as 75 ventilators, 244 oxygen attached beds and 374 beds in wards and 73 beds in isolation rooms are vacant in the six health facilities established for coronavirus patients,” he said.

He said there were 790 beds available, including 240 at the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), 196 at Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), 100 at Holy Family Hospital (HFH), 14 at District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ), 120 at Sports Complex field hospital and 120 at the Red Crescent Hospital (RCH).

The commissioner said 766 beds were vacant in six hospitals, including 238 at the RIU, 179 at BBH, 95 at HFH, 10 at DHQ hospital, 120 at Sports Complex and 120 at the RCH.

He said nine patients reported in the Rawalpindi division on Tuesday, three each in Rawalpindi, Chakwal and Jhelum.

Moreover, 27 patients were discharged from hospitals - 25 in Attock, one each in Chakwal and Jhelum.

The number of confirmed patients in the Rawalpindi district reached 6,505 while 274 people have died and 5,901 others discharged after recovery. Total 330 confirmed patients are under treatment in the four hospitals. Moreover, 176 patients are isolated in their homes. The local administrations also keep 6,610 people on quarantine who had been close contacts of the confirmed patients.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2020