ISLAMABAD: The capital saw another surge in the Covid-19 cases as 411 more people tested positive with three deaths from the disease on Saturday.

Officials of the capital administration told Dawn that 400 or more cases a day had been reported seven times since the outbreak of the virus in March.

On June 5, 402 cases were reported in the city followed by 656, 456, 463, 464, 771 and 635 cases on June 7, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 15, respectively.

In the last 24 hours, 6,267 tests were conducted and on Saturday 249 men and 162 women were found infected in different areas of the capital. The positivity rate also increased to 6.5pc.

The officials said 29 cases were reported from G-6, 24 from Bhara Kahu, 23 from G-13, 21 from G-10, 20 from PWD, 18 from I-8, 17 from G-9, 16 from G-7, 15 from F-8, 14 from G-11, 13 each from G-8, Chak Shahzad, 12 each from Bahria Town, Tramri, Sihala, 11 from Ghouri Town, 10 each from F-7, F-6, E-11, eight each from Sohan, F-10, Soan Garden, seven each from F-11, NPF, six each from D-12, H-8, Margalla Town, five each from Media Town, I-10, Tarlai, four each from DHA II, three each from Suparco, Nilore, I-14, F-15, D-17, Banigala, two each from Rawat, CBR Town, Burma Town, H-12, G-15, I-9, G-5 and one each from Korang Town, Tarnol, F-5 and E-9.

As per the District Health Office, three deaths were reported in the city and the patients were on ventilators in different hospitals. The number of active cases stood at 2,998, they added, adding a few areas of the capital were emerging as hotspots for the virus. These areas included Loi Bher, G-10, I-18, G-6 and Rawat.

Officials say Loi Bher, Rawat, G-10, I-18 and G-6 are emerging as hotspots

Moreover, the number of sealed educational institutions in the capital reached 120.

Rawalpindi

Positive cases also continued to rise in the garrison city as 106 people tested positive on Saturday. However, no death was reported.

As many as 8,438 people have so far contracted the virus in Rawalpindi district with 349 deaths. Around 7,425 patients have recovered.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that the number of cases was increasing but at the moment hospitals in Rawalpindi division were not overwhelmed with patients.

He said 5,445 beds were available in the four districts - 2,810 in Rawalpindi, 1,173 in Attock, 552 in Jhelum and 910 in Chakwal. Four high dependency units are working in the division.

He said since March 706 people tested positive in Attock, 554 in Jhelum and 328 in Chakwal. As many as 422 people have lost their lives in the division.

A total number of 664 confirmed patients are under treatment, including 111 at the Holy Family Hospital, while 601 people are waiting for their results.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2020