ISLAMABAD: Nine people died of Covid-19 and 556 people were infected in the twin cities on Friday as Islamabad reported the second highest number of cases in the country after Karachi.

According to capital administration officials, the highest number of positive cases was recorded in Karachi where 1,202 people tested positive, followed by Islamabad at 425, Peshawar, 238; Lahore, 200 and Rawalpindi, 131 cases.

The officials said two persons, who were in the age group of 70-89, lost their lives in different hospitals in Islamabad. One of them was a resident of I-8 while the address of other person is not known.

During the last 24 hours, 7,282 tests were conducted in Islamabad and 1,401 in Rawalpindi.

As many as 30 positive cases were reported from G-7, 26 from I-8, 24 from Bhara Kahu, 22 from Bahria Town, 19 from G-11, 18 each from G-9 and G-6, 17 from G-10, 15 each from Tarlai and F-7, 13 each from Ghauri Town and F-11, 12 each from PWD and F-6, 10 each from G-5 and Chak Shahzad, nine each from I-9 and G-8, eight each from Soan Garden, DHA-II and Alipur, seven each from Sohan, G-13, F-10 and E-11, six each from I-10 and Bahria Enclave, five from F-8, four each from Kuri, I-14, Shahzad Town, Sangam Town, River Garden, PIEAS Institute and D-12, three each from NPF, Model Town, Jinnah Garden, Rawal Town and Farash Town and two each from H-12, Green Avenue, CBR Town and Burma Town.

l Islamabad records second highest number of cases after Karachi l Taxila sees record spike in infections

Rawalpindi

Seven people succumbed to the virus and 131 new cases were detected in Rawalpindi district on Friday.

As many as 126 patients were also discharged from hospitals after recovering.

Shaheen Akhtar, a 47-year-old resident of Kotli Sattian, was brought to Fauji Foundation Hospital on Nov 26 where she breathed her last on Friday.

Similarly, 63-year-old Mumtaz Ahmed from Lalazar was admitted to the Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre on Nov 26 but died late Thursday night.

Jameel Ashraf, 72, a resident of Tench Bhatta, was brought to Holy Family Hospital on Nov 26 but could not survive.

Yasmeen Akhtar, 58, arrived in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology from Gujar Khan on Nov 26 but died late Thursday night.

Parveen Akhtar, 47, also died on Friday at Rawalpindi Institute of Urology. She had been brought from Taxila on Nov 26.

Mohammad Ramzan, 50, a resident of Sabzazar, was also brought to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology on Nov 26 where he breathed his last late Thursday night.

Mehwish Ahmed, 23, was brought to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology from Dhoke Syedan where she died on Friday.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that 131 patients tested positive in the district out of which 120 were from Rawalpindi and 11 from outside the district.

Mr Mehmood said the district administrations of Rawalpindi Division had been asked to ensure implementation of standard operating procedures in all departments and public places.

At present, the district has 1,175 active cases with 26 being treated in Holy Family Hospital, 22 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, four at Red Crescent Hospital and 56 at Rawalpindi Institute of Urology.

A total of 984 patients have been isolated in their homes while 658 people were waiting for their results.

Since March, Rawalpindi district has reported 9,964 positive cases.

Taxila

The tehsil saw a record spike in cases on Friday after 51 people contracting the virus, setting off alarms bells among officials of the local administration.

According to the report issued by the health department, the tally of positive patients in Taxila has risen to 728.

Deputy District Officer Health Dr Sara Qadeer said 41 new cases emerged from the urban areas of Wah Cantonment with the maximum coming from Ward No 8.

She said the number of active patients in the city stood at 87 and all were home isolated. So far 578 patients have recovered.

Attock district also witnessed a surge in Covid-19 cases for the third consecutive day.

Seven people tested positive on Friday after which the tally in the district rose to 772.

Focal person for Covid-19 in the district Dr Saeed Akhtar said out of the seven patients, four belonged to Attock city,

two were from Fatehjang and one from Hazro.

He said the district had 96 active cases with 83 isolated in their homes and 13 hospitalised.

Responding to a question, Dr Akhtar said the number of suspected cases in the district was 19,415 and 22,866 people had been screened so far. — Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2020