RAWALPINDI: Seven more people lost their lives to Covid-19 and over 400 more tested positive in the twin cities on Wednesday.

According to the capital administration officials, three deaths were reported in the hospitals in Islamabad. The patients were in critical condition and had been placed on ventilators but could not survive, they added.

With these three casualties, the death toll from coronavirus in the capital has reached 247. So far, 22,432 people in the city have been affected by the virus with 19,443 having recovered.The officials said 322 positive cases were reported on Wednesday, adding that during the last 24 hours, 5,453 tests were conducted, showing a positivity rate of 5.9.

On the other hand, four patients died in various hospitals of the garrison city.

According to the city authorities, 79 patients tested positive for the deadly virus while 37 were discharged from hospitals after recovering.

458 people have so far tested positive, 16 died in November; WHO, Pakistan sign strategy to tackle health emergencies

A government school in Mandra was sealed after two female students and a staff member were found affected by the virus.

Faraz Ahmed, 54, a resident of Mohallah Kartarpura, was brought to Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC) on Nov 10. He breathed his last on Wednesday morning. Another patient, Mushtaq Ahmed, 50, a resident of Shalley Valley, was admitted to RIC on Tuesday but he too died the next day.

Mojan Bibi, 90, a resident of Dhoke Kashmirian, succumbed to the virus late at night at Holy Family Hospital while Mohammad Ikhlaq, 50, who was brought to Holy Family Hospital from Murree on Nov 10, died on Wednesday.

As many as 8,174 people have contracted the virus in Rawalpindi district during the last eight months out of which 340 have died and7,359 recovered.Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that the number of coronavirus patients in Rawalpindi district had increased considerably in October, with 635 people testing positive and 32 succumbing to the virus.

“In August, 176 cases were reported in Rawalpindi district with five deaths while 298 in September along with eight deaths. In the first 10 days of the current month, 458 patients have so far tested positive and 16 have died,” Mr Mehmood said.

The commissioner said the number of recoveries was also increasing gradually as 401 patients tested negative in August, 375 in September, 531 in October and 298 during the first 10 days of November.

He said 9,721 people have tested positive since March in Rawalpindi Division.

WHO, Pakistan to tackle health emergencies

World Health Organisation (WHO) and Pakistan have signed the Country Cooperation Strategy 2020-2025 to tackle health emergencies.

An estimated funding of $885 million is required to help the government achieve goals set under the strategy.

These goals include ensuring that people of all ages get access to quality healthcare along with addressing health emergencies worldwide.

The strategy was signed in Islamabad by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan and WHO representative Dr Palitha Mahipala.

According to the organisation, signing of this document reaffirms its relationship with United Nations and the Pakistani government.

Meanwhile, the World Health Assembly is expected to adopt a resolution to strengthen preparedness for health emergencies keeping in view more than 1.2 million lives that have been lost due to Covid-19 during the past year.

The resolution will call for improvement of governance, decision-making, along with enhancing institutional and operational capacity for building infrastructure for public health, advising member states to provide political, financial and technical support through multi-sectoral efforts to strengthen the country’s capacity to tackle health emergencies.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2020