ISLAMABAD: The district administration has decided to hold meetings with the management of churches with regard to observance of standard operating procedures during Christmas celebrations to check the spread of Covid-19.

On the other hand, five people died and 276 more contracted virus in the twin cities on Sunday.

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia told Dawn that it had been decided to hold a meeting with the church managements.

“Though there are a number of small churches, our focus will be the three main churches as majority of the Christian community visited them for Christmas service and prayers. We will train their staff and provide them the equipment to ensure that they scan and disinfect people and places,” he added.

Dr Zia said infection trend in Islamabad had been declining, with the positivity ratio dropping by 2.5pc from 6.83pc to 4.3pc in the last two weeks.

“Though cases have decreased, we have not eradicated the virus therefore people should strictly adhere to the SOPs and cooperate with the district administration,” he said.

Five deaths, 276 new cases reported in twin cities

Replying to a question, the health officer said 5,403 samples were collected on Saturday out of which 212 came back positive on Sunday. He also confirmed one death.

“There is 1pc mortality rate in the federal capital but it can be further reduced if people strictly follow the SOPs,” he said.

The National Command and Operation Centre had on Saturday termed Christmas events a major challenge and issued guidelines to mitigate the spread of person-to-person transmission of virus.

“Christmas events could amplify the transmission of the virus and potentially disrupt the country’s response capacity. Precautions are required by public, especially Christian community, to protect themselves and prevent transmission. Social visits during Christmas and family get-togethers should be avoided. Longer gatherings pose a greater risk than shorter ones so the duration of events should be reduced,” the guidelines stated.

Churches have been advised to ensure thermal screening of all worshippers at the entry gates and preachers asked to deliver sermons on the virus and precautions.

Windows and doors of the churches should be kept open for ventilation on Christmas day, no carpets or mats be laid down as the virus was airborne, benches be cleaned with chlorinated water regularly and everyone should wear a mask and maintain at least one metre distance from each other, the centre said.

Rawalpindi

Four people died and 64 others tested positive on Sunday while no patient was discharged from any hospital in the city.

Dil Faraz, 46, from Murree, was admitted to Fauji Foundation Hospital on Dec 14 where he died on Sunday.

Taj Bibi, 75, a resident of Kallar Syedan, was brought to Pims on Dec 19 but succumbed to the virus on Sunday. Abdul Hafeez, 65, a resident of Mohallah Kashmirian, Gujar Khan, died at Rawalpindi Institute of Urology late Saturday night where he had been under treatment since Dec 18.

Nazir Hussain, 95, a resident of Gujar Khan, was admitted to Bilal Hospital on Dec 18 but breathed his last on Sunday.

A total of 64 people contracted the virus on Sunday, taking the number of active patients in the district to 1,064. As many as 246 are being treated at hospitals while 818 have been home isolated.

So far 12,382 confirmed patients have been reported in Rawalpindi district in the last 10 months while 10,815 have been discharged from hospitals after recovering. The death toll in the district has been recorded at 503.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood said 14,711 people have tested positive since March including 966 in Attock, 911 in Jhelum and 452 in Chakwal.

Attock

Four new cases were reported in Attock after which the total number of patients in the district has risen to 966.

According to health authorities, with the advent of winter and non-observance of standard operating procedures (SOPs), patients of coronavirus have increased in Attock city and other towns of the district, especially Hazro.

District Health Authority Chief Executive Dr Jawad Elahi said two of the new cases were reported from Attock city and one each from Fatehjang and Hazro, adding that the number of active patients was 167. — Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2020