ISLAMABAD: The capital and Rawalpindi district saw a reduction in the number of positive cases as well as deaths from Covid-19 on Saturday compared to the previous day.

Islamabad reported 205 positive cases and one death on Saturday compared to 259 patients and four deaths on Friday. Similarly, Rawalpindi district saw 51 people getting infected compared to 91 on Friday.

According to officials of the capital administration, 5,749 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours out of which 205 came back positive. The positivity rate recorded on Saturday stood at 3.5pc, they added.

One patient died at Pims who was in the age group of 50-59.

A total of 21 positive cases were reported from I-8, followed by 19 from Lohi Bher, 16 from Tarlai, 12 each from Bhara Kahu and E-11,11 from G-10, eight each from G-13 and Khanna, seven each from G-9, G-8, G-7 and F-11, six each from G-6 and F-6, five each from Rawat and G-5, four each from E-11, F-8 and Chak Shahzad, three each from Kural, Kirpa, H-13 and F-5, two each fom Sohan, Alipur, Rawal Town, D-12, Sihala and E-7 and one each from F-10, F-7, Kurri, I-9, G-15, Model Town, B-17, Chirah, Bari Imam, Jhangi Syedan, G-16 and I-16.

Rawalpindi

As many as 51 people contracted the virus on Saturday, far less than those who tested positive the previous day, which was 91.

According to a report prepared by Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq, the highest number of confirmed patients reported in Rawalpindi district was 882 between Nov 22 and 28th. A total of 183 patients were reported on Nov 22 alone which is the highest in the district since March.

The most positive cases were recorded in Rawalpindi at 9,136, followed by 787 in Taxila, 639 in Gujar Khan, 305 in Kallar Syedan, 192 in Kahuta, 131 in Murree and 78 in Kotli Sattian.

Capital records 3.5pc positivity rate; 256 contract virus in twin cities

On Saturday, one person died while no patient was discharged from the hospital.

Amiruddin, 64, a resident of Clifton Colony, Adiala Road, had been under treatment in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology since Dec 13. He breathed his last on Saturday.

There are 1,004 active patients in the district with 230 in hospitals and 774 home isolated.Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood said the trend of new cases was changing as patients were coming from different places and not from a specific street or area.

He said between March to Dec 16, 12,318 people in Rawalpindi district have been infected and 499 have died.

Attock

Another Covid-19 patient succumbed to the virus in Attock on Saturday.

According to sources in the health department, a frontline health worker identified as Dr Naseer Ahmed, a resident of Hazro, died and was buried in Kallu Kallan village.

District Health Authority Chief Executive Dr Jawad Elahi said among the new patients, three were from Attock city while one was from Hazro. With the emergence of new cases, the tally has risen to 962 in the district. He said the figure of active patients in the district was 163.

On the other hand, two localities in Taxila went under smart lockdown after number of coronavirus cases increased in these areas.

According to the notification issued by the Punjab government, the smart lockdown will continue till Jan 1 in Kohsar Colony and Gulshan Colony after a sharp increase in new cases was seen during the past two weeks.

Taxila reported 15 new cases during the last 24 hours in the tehsil, raising the tally to 877, according to statistics released by the health authorities.

Deputy District Officer Health Dr Sara Qadeer confirmed that active patients had increased to 273 and all were under home isolation. Sources further said 579 patients had also recovered from the deadly virus. — Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2020