ISLAMABAD: Seven people died of Covid-19 – five in Islamabad and two in Rawalpindi – as the twin cities reported 493 more cases on Thursday.

Officials said during the last 24 hours, 6,306 tests were conducted in the capital and 417 people tested positive.

The positivity rate remained 6.6 per cent. The five patients who passed away were admitted to different hospitals in Islamabad.

The number of active cases in the capital reached 5,436. The officials said 33 of the new cases were reported from Bhara Kahu, 23 each from G-8, G-6, 22 from I-8, 19 from I-9, 18 from F-6, 14 each from Bahria Town, DHA II, 13 each from Ghouri Town, G-13, G-11, 12 each from G-7, F-10, 11 each from I-10, F-8, Sihala, 10 from G-10, nine each from F-11, E-11, eight from PWD, seven from NPF, six each from G-5, Jinnah Garden, five each from Pakistan Town, I-14, four each from Model Town, D-15, three each from Jhangi Syedan, Khanna, H-13, F-7, two each from Naval Anchorage, Koral Chowk and one each from F-15, H-12.

The remaining cases were reported from Bahria Enclave, Chak Shahzad, Chattha Bakhtawar, Taramri, Margalla Town, Tarlai, G-15, H-8 and I-16.

The number of hospitals admitting Covid-19 patients has increased to 15.

These hospitals have reserved 676 beds and 75 ventilators for the coronavirus patients.

Islamabad reports 417 and Rawalpindi 76 new cases

Meanwhile, the Senate Secretariat on Thursday further extended the closure of its offices till Dec 12. During the period, the employees shall perform their duties from homes.

The Senate Secretariat closed its offices early in November. All meetings of the Senate standing and functional committees have been cancelled but the National Assembly standing committees are holding their sessions in the same building.

Rawalpindi

Besides the two deaths, 76 people tested positive in different areas of Rawalpindi while 165 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovering from the disease.

Tariq Swati, 65, a resident of Ratta Amral, was admitted to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) on Dec 2 where he died late on Wednesday night.

Agha Aziz, 83, was taken to Dr Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital from Lalkurti on Dec 2 where he died on Thursday morning.

Officials said 1,183 patients were under treatment in the district - 141 at Holy Family Hospital, Hearts International Hospital, Red Crescent Hospital, Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Benazir Bhutto Hospital.

Among them, 75 patients are from Rawalpindi and the rest from other districts.

Moreover, 1,042 patients are isolated in their homes while 569 people are waiting for their results.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that the number of cases had slightly decreased in the last a few days and the number of patients recovering from the virus was increasing.

He said 5,618 people reported in the filter clinics of Rawalpindi Medical University’s allied hospitals from Oct 10 to Dec 3 and 745 of them tested positive.

“At present, there are 445 beds in government hospitals and 308 beds are vacant. Besides, there are 230 beds in the high dependency units where 106 patients are admitted and 124 beds are vacant. Total 46 ventilators are available and only 12 are occupied,” he said.

Attock

Eight more people tested positive, increasing the tally to 821 in the district of Attock on Thursday.

Chief executive officer District Health Authority Dr Jawad Ellahi said five of the new cases were from the Attock city and three from Hazro.

There are 106 active patients across the district and nine are under treatment and 97 under home isolation.

He said screening of 22,940 people had so far been carried out and the results of 494 people were awaited.

Jhelum

District Health Authority’s head Dr Waseem Iqbal said 23 more people tested positive in Jhelum on Thursday.

He said 15 patients were under treatment in hospitals and 111 isolated at their homes. So far, 11 people have died of Covid-19 in the district, he added. — Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal & Hamid Asghar

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2020