ISLAMABAD: Business centres in the twin cities reopened on Saturday as the government lifted the weekend lockdown imposed in markets and bazaars.

Meanwhile, another decrease was seen in the number of Covid-19 cases in the capital as 32 new patients emerged on Saturday. On Friday, 41 positive cases were reported in the city.

Twelve cases were reported from the age group of 20-29 followed by eight from 30-39, five from 40-49, two each from 50-59, 60-69 and 70-79 and one from 10-19.

Officials said 11 of the new cases were reported from Kurri, two each from G-9, G-7, Tarlai, Bhara Kahu and I-10, one each from G-8, G-6, G-10, G-11, F-11, F7, Sohan, G-15, Koral, E-9 and Shah Allah ditta.

The tally of the confirmed cases in the capital reached 15,214.

So far, 12,914 patients have recovered and 171 died, said the officials, adding there were 2,129 active cases.

Twin cities record decrease in new Covid-19 cases

Thirty-two active cases are kept in eight hospitals, said the officials, adding condition of 19 patients was stable; six were on oxygen and seven on ventilators.

So far, 3,512 people in the age group of 30-39 have been infected with the virus followed by 2,799 in the 20-29 age group, 2,473 aged 40-49 years, 1,932 aged 50-59 years, 1,386 in the age group of 0-9, 1,128 in the age group of 60-69, 1,026 aged 10-19 years, 442 aged 70-79 and 156 aged 80 and above. The age of 360 patients was not known.

Out of the total 171 deaths, 54 were in the age group of 60-69, 39 in the age group of 70-79, 29 aged 50-59 years, 21 aged 80-89, 19 aged 40-49, eight aged 30-39 and one aged 90-99.

Meanwhile, the capital administration issued a notification easing restrictions on small businesses and allowing them to remain open for unlimited time and throughout the week.

Rawalpindi

Three tested positive on Saturday and one patient died of the virus in Rawalpindi. However, no patient was discharged from hospitals.

The 83-year-old resident of Muslim Town was admitted to Holy Family Hospital on Aug 5 where he died on Saturday morning.

On Saturday, 56 tests were conducted and three of them were found infected with the virus, 17 tested negative and the results of the remaining were awaited.

Meanwhile, all bazaars and markets in the garrison city opened on Saturday. Earlier, a lockdown was imposed on Saturdays and Sundays.

However, the Punjab government has not yet issued a notification for lifting the weekend lockdown.

“The provincial government is preparing new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for bazaars, industrial units and public places which will be issued in a day or two,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Ahmed Jappa.

With the new cases, thenumber of confirmed patients in the district increased to 6,574 while 277 people have died and 6,127 patients recovered so far.

However, 214 suspected patients are waiting for their results.

Total 117 patients are under treatment at the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, Holy Family Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital while 53 others are isolated in their homes.

The local administration also keeps 6,793 people on quarantine who had been close contacts of the confirmed patients.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2020