ISLAMABAD: Islamabad reported its highest single day rise in Covid-19 cases in the last two months, with 186 people testing positive on Saturday, while two people died of the disease in Rawalpindi.

An educational institution was sealed and 10 were reopened after being disinfected and cleared.

On Friday, the Islamabad Postgraduate College for Women in F-7/2 was sealed once more after two people tested positive for Covid-19. The college had reopened on Oct 19 after being sealed for nearly two weeks.

Schools that have been allowed to reopen are the School of Wisdom in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad Model School for Girls (IMSG) in Korang Town, Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG) in G-10/2, DHA-I Education System, Roots School Kingston Campus ion G-15, Beaconhouse School H-8/4, Islamabad Model College of Boys (IMCB) in G-10/4, IMCG I-9/1, Headstart School in I-8/4 and Roots School Piccadily Campus in F-8/4.

Islamabad’s District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia told Dawn that although 186 seems like a large number, Islamabad is also testing more than other provinces, with 4,946 tests carried out in the last 24 hours. The test-positivity rate is 3.76pc.

“Conducting more tests provides the opportunity to detect and trace more cases and break the chain, as undiagnosed cases increase the chance of spread of the virus. Once a case is confirmed, it becomes possible to ensure that the patient will stay at his/her house or in isolation so that the virus does not spread,” he said.

People are not taking disease seriously, says Pindi commissioner

He added that a large number of cases are being detected through the tracing, testing and quarantine policy, which is used to trace contacts of previously confirmed cases.

He said that once schools are sealed, they are disinfected and patient contacts are traced, after which schools are allowed to reopen once it is confirmed that the disease is not present in the building.

Rawalpindi

Two people have died and 13 have tested positive for Covid-19 in Rawalpindi, while no recoveries were reported.

A 60-year-old resident of Gulistan Colony died Saturday morning at the Social Security Hospital, where she was admitted on Friday.

A 54-year-old woman who lived in Chaklala Scheme III and was brought to Fauji Foundation Hospital on Oct 23 also died Saturday morning.

So far, 7,421 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the district, of which 310 have died and 6,919 have recovered.

There are currently 303 patients waiting for the results of their Covid-19 tests.

In addition, 45 confirmed patients are admitted to the Holy Family Hospital, of which five are from outside the district. There are another 147 patients isolated in their homes, who are being visited by health authority officials in selected areas.

Local administrations have said that 516 people are also quarantined.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals is increasing, with 45 currently admitted to HFH. He said all the hospitalised patients are stable.

He added that the district administration has been asked to check violations of standard operating procedures (SOP) to limit the spread of Covid-19 in markets, and traders will be taken into confidence in this regard.

He said that it has been observed that people are not taking the disease seriously. He said that the disease has not gone away, but is instead re-emerging in the region with the change in season.

“People should be made aware of safety measures. We have to live with the reality of the virus and should maintain a social distance in public places, wear masks and wash hands,” he said. He said that 8,874 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported in the Rawalpindi division so far, including 7,421 in Rawalpindi, 650 in Attock, 505 in Jhelum and 298 in Chakwal.

A total of 379 people have died – 310 in Rawalpindi, 39 in Chakwal, 21 in Attock and nine in Jhelum - and 8,275 have recovered – 6,919 in Rawalpindi, 615 in Attock, 488 in Jhelum and 253 in Chakwal.

Taxila

Five people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Taxila, including three healthcare professionals.

The total number of cases has now reached 531, the health department has said.

According to the report issued by the health department, all the cases are from urban areas in Wah. They include a doctor at Wah General Hospital and a paramedic.

Deputy District Officer Health Dr Sara Qadeer said that there are 47 active patients in the area, all of whom are isolated in their homes.

School sealed in Jhelum

A government school in Jhelum has been sealed after its vice principal was diagnosed with Covid-19.

The Government Comprehensive School has been sealed until further orders after other members of teaching staff and students were tested for the disease by the district administration. — Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal & Hamid Asghar

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2020