ISLAMABAD: As many as 112 people contracted Covid-19 in the twin cities while two lost their lives in the capital on Saturday. However, no casualty was reported in Rawalpindi.

District Health Officer Islamabad Dr Zaeem Zia told Dawn that 6,860 samples were collected on Friday out of which 81 were found to be positive. He further said the positivity rate in the federal capital had fallen to 1.1pc, claiming that the ratio had been declining for the last 10 weeks.

“The weekly trend, which was around 7pc in November, has reached 1.7pc; we are trying to further control the virus,” Dr Zia said.On the other hand, Rawalpindi district has reported 31 new cases.

As many as 17 new patients arrived in hospitals out of whom seven were from cantonment areas while five each were from Potohar and Rawal towns. As many as five patients surfaced in Gujar Khan, two each in Kallar Syedan and Kahuta and one in Taxila.

At present, there are 364 active patients in the district out of whom 65 were in hospitals and 299 home isolated. As many as 472 patients are waiting for their Covid-19 serology results.

A total of 65 patients were under treatment in hospitals, with 13 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, 13 in Fauji Foundation Hospital, seven in Holy Family Hospital, three in Red Crescent Hospital, three in Hearts International Hospital and 25 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that 10 patients were in critical condition and required ventilator while 32 needed oxygen.

He said 16,546 people tested positive for Covid-19 including 1,169 in Attock, 1,234 in Jhelum and 599 in Chakwal.

Mr Mehmood said 15,317 patients had been discharged from hospitals after recovering in the four districts while 705 people died in Rawalpindi Division.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2021