ISLAMABAD: The capital on Saturday reported more than 300 new Covid-19 infections in a single day for the first time in four months, as well as five deaths.

Departments at two universities were also sealed after students and staff tested positive for the disease.

Capital administration officials said 335 new cases of Covid-19 and five deaths have been reported in Islamabad. The last time the city reported more than 300 new infections was on June 21, when 383 people tested positive.

The number of new cases dwindled to four in one day on Aug 5, and stayed below 50 until Sept 19, when 53 new patients were reported. Cases then remained below 53 until Sept 27, when 73 people tested positive, and then rose to 91 on Oct 7.

On Oct 9, 113 new cases were reported in the city, followed by 155 on Oct 15, 186 on Oct 24, 224 on Oct 31, 228 on Nov 4 and 273 on Nov 6.

Depts in two capital universities sealed; Pindi authorities form teams to enforce SOPs

There were 6,469 tests carried out in the last 24 hours in the capital, with a test-positivity rate of 5.1pc.

Of the new cases, 27 were reported from Sihala, followed by 18 each from G-6 and G-13, 16 each from I-8 and G-9, 15 each from Tarlai, Bahria Town, G-8 and G-10, 12 each from DHA II and F-10, 11 each from E-11 and Bhara Kahu, 10 from F-6, nine each from Chak Shahzad, G-11, F-8 and F-11, seven each from PWD Colony, I-9 and I-10, six from G-7, four each from a hostel, Kornag Town, I-14, H-13, G-15, Alipur, G-5, Shah Allah Ditta and D-12, three from Ghouri Town, two each from Media Town, Jinnah Garden, G-12, Farash Town, D-17 and F-7, and one each from H-15, F-17, F-15, E-16, E-14, Barma Town, B-17, H-10 and E-7, they added.

The five patients who died of Covid-19 were admitted to various hospitals, where they had been placed on ventilators.

Islamabad has now reported 21,302 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 236 deaths and 18,786 recoveries. There are now 2,093 active cases in the capital.

In an effort to enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) to limit the spread of Covid-19, teams from the administration visited markets, shopping centres, marakiz and educational institutions.

A total 27 people were arrested for serious violations of SOPs, while other violators were fined Rs3,400. Six shops were sealed and other shopkeepers were fined Rs20,500 during inspections of stores and other premises in 165 areas.

They also checked 40 restaurants, 13 mosques and 10 wedding halls; two restaurants were sealed and Rs10,000 in fines were imposed on other violations.

Departments at the National University of Modern Languages (Numl) and the Fast University were also sealed after the institutions reported seven and two Covid-19 cases each.

Two people associated with the Numl Department of Management Science, one with the Department of Computer Science and others in the BS International Relations and English programmes, the BBA programme and publication office tested positive at Numl, along with two people from the Department of MS Data Science and at Fast University.

Separate notifications issued by the DHO stated that the departments concerned and class premises should be closed immediately and until further notice.

Rawalpindi

The district administration on Saturday formed 27 committees in various police stati0ns’ limits to monitor compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).

According to a notification, tehsildars and senior officials from the district food department, Rawalpindi Metropolitan Corporation, environment, labour and other departments will monitor SOPs compliance.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Anwar Jappa told Dawn that the committees have been formed and begun working. They will have the authority to impose Rs100 fines per person for failing to wear a mask.

He said the committee would visit markets to see whether they close by 10pm and enforce other parts of the SOPs as well.

Mr Jappa said the administration is working to identify areas where limited or ‘smart’ lockdowns may be recommended due to an increase in cases.

Three people died of Covid-19 in Rawalpindi district on Saturday and 32 people tested positive for the disease.

A 67-year-old resident of Chappar village on Adiala Road who was brought to Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on Oct 29 died on Saturday.

An 87-year-old resident of the Airport Housing Society was brought to HFH on Nov 6 and died on Saturday, as did a 67-year-old resident of School Road in Westridge III, who was brought to Quaid-i-Azam Hospital on Nov 6.

Rawalpindi has reported 7,885 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the past eight months, with 334 deaths and 7,195 recoveries.

There are currently 78 confirmed patients admitted to HFH, of which 56 are from within the district. Another 277 patients are isolated at home, where they are being visited by health authority officials in selected areas.

There are still 498 people awaiting the results of their Covid-19 tests.

Attock

Five more people tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday in the Attock district, where the total number of infections has reached 765.

According to a report by the local health department, this is the second largest rise in cases reported in the district during the second wave of the pandemic.

The district’s focal person on Covid-19, Dr Saeed Akhter, told the media that three of the new patients are from Attock city and two are from Hazro.

He said there are 25 active cases in the district, all under home isolation. There are currently 1,506 suspected patients awaiting the results of their Covid-19 tests, he added.— Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2020