ISLAMABAD: Five more lives were lost to Covid-19 and another 514 new infections surfaced in the twin cities on Friday as the capital administration sealed 96 various businesses in its jurisdiction for their ‘massive’ violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs).

According to officials, Islamabad reported four deaths and 447 new cases during the last 24 hours. The deceased were all males in the age bracket of 50-79. They were residents of G-7, G-11, I-10 and F-6.

Two patients were admitted in Pims while one was in Capital Hospital. As many as 6,153 tests were conducted with a positivity rate of 7.17pc.

According to the breakdown of new infections, 36 were reported from I-8/3 and I-8/4, 22 cases from G-9, 33 from G-10 and 13 from G-6.

Similarly, 30 cases were recorded in Chak Shahzad followed by 20 each in Bahria Town, G-13 and I-10, 17 from Tarlai, 15 each from Ghauri Town and E-11, 13 each from G-8 and G-11, 12 each from Golra, G-7, F-11 and DHA-II, 10 each from F-10 and Bhara Kahu, nine from G-5, seven each from I-9, F-6, Banigala and Sihala, six each from Soan Garden, F-8, H-15 and F-5, five each from PWD, NPF, Media Town, G-15, H-8 and F-7, four each from Jinnah Garden, River Garden and Shah Alla Ditta, three from H-12 and the remaining from other areas. The number of active cases in the capital stands at 3,960.

In a clampdown on business centres ignoring health guidelines, the capital administration imposed a fine amounting to Rs72,000 on shopkeepers and restaurant owners while 23 people were arrested.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat said restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, schools and mosques were inspected by separate teams which found most of them violating SOPs. As a result, 64 restaurants, 22 hotels, six shops and four schools were sealed, he added.

Over 500 more infected; 96 businesses sealed for violating SOPs

On the other hand, I-8/3, I-8/4, G-9/1, G-10/4 and G-6/2 were de-sealed after carrying out the necessary procedures.

According to a notification, the areas were de-sealed after the administration completed its contact survey, contact tracing, ground surveillance and testing of suspected individuals.

Rawalpindi

One Covid-19 patient died and 67 more tested positive in the garrison city. As many as 12 patients were discharged from hospitals.

The 56-year-old man from Dhoke Kharian was admitted to the Isolation Hospital and Infectious Diseases Treatment Centre on Nov 19 but died on Friday.

Moreover, 830 patients are under treatment, including 100 in Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Benazir Bhutto Hospital. Among them, 60 patients are from Rawalpindi and the remaining from other districts. Besides, 631 patients are waiting for their results and 730 have been isolated in their homes.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood said 1,427 people have so far tested positive in the Rawalpindi Division in the current month - 1,247 in Rawalpindi district, 70 in Attock, 67 in Jhelum and 43 in Chakwal. He said 36 people have died of the virus in Rawalpindi district and five in Chakwal since Nov 1.

Jhelum

As many as 12 people tested positive and seven more schools were sealed in Jhelum, said District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Waseem Iqbal. He said 33,182 people were screened and 594 of them were found carrying the virus.

In Gujar Khan, the National Bank of Pakistan Daultala town branch was sealed after its manager tested positive. So far, 421 people have contracted the virus in Gujar Khan and 53 died of the disease. — Additional reporting by Hamid Asghar

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2020

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