ISLAMABAD: Once again an increase was seen in the number of Covid-19 cases in the capital as 238 more people tested positive on Thursday compared to 158 on Wednesday.

Three more deaths from the infection were also reported in Islamabad.

On Thursday, the utilisation of ventilators in the capital was the highest while the occupancy of oxygenated beds remained third in the country.

An official of the The Ministry of National Health Services told Dawn that the occupancy rate of ventilators in the capital was 44pc.

Officials of the capital administration said during the last 24 hours 6,589 tests were conducted and 238 positive cases were detected with the positivity rate of 3.6pc compared to 2.9pc on Wednesday.

Three patients who passed away were residents of I-8, G-15 and Alipur. They were in the age group of 50-59, 60-69 and 70-79.

On Thursday, 29 cases were reported from Loi Bher, followed by 16 from G-9, 15 each from I-8 G-13, 11 from I-1, 10 each from G-6, F-11, nine from Bhara Kahu, eight each from E-11, G-8, seven each from Tarlai, G-11, G-7, Rawat, F-8, six each from G-10, D-12, five each from F-10, Khanna, D-17, four each from Kurri, F-15, three each from Sohan, Alipur, Sihala, Shah Allahdita, and two each from F-6, G-5, Chak Shahzad, I-9, H-13, Tarnol, F-15, G-12.

Rawalpindi

As many as four people died in Rawalpindi district, including senior journalist Tariq Mehmood Malik. Moreover, 94 people tested positive and 141 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery.

Tariq Mehmood Malik, 50, a resident of Satellite Town, was admitted to Holy Family Hospital where he died on Thursday.

Fauzia Tauqeer, 57, a resident of Kallar Syedan, died at Holy Family Hospital while Jamila Kalsoom, 74, a resident of Kahuta, died at Fauji Foundation Hospital. Shahid Afzal, 54, a resident of Satellite Town, died at Pakistan Institute of Medical sciences.

As many as 1,031 active patients are in the district - 195 in hospitals and 836 isolated in their homes.

Since March, 1,2176 confirmed patients have reported in Rawalpindi district while 10,869 patients were discharged from hospitals and 490 people died.

Chakwal

Chakwal’s famous physician Dr Iftikhar Hussain Khokar passed away on Thursday after battling with coronavirus for over two weeks, Dr Khalid Hassan, the focal person for the District Health Authority Chakwal, confirmed to Dawn.

He said Dr Khokar was under treatment at a hospital in Rawalpindi.

With the passing of Dr Khokar, the number of fatalities from the infection in Chakwal reached 59.

“Currently, there are 20 active cases in Chakwal, 12 are in home isolation while eight are admitted to District Headquarters Hospital Chakwal,” Dr Khalid Haasan said. Four personnel of Chakwal traffic police are also suffering from the virus.

Attock

Another patient succumbed to coronavirus in Attock on Thursday, According to sources in health department, Mohammad Riaz, 67, a resident of Hazro, was buried at a local graveyard.

Moreover, according to statistics released by health authorities, the active patients in the district are 144 in which three are under treatment while 141 in home isolation. — Additional reporting by Nabeel Anwer Dhaku & Amjad Iqbal

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2020