ISLAMABAD: The capital administration on Thursday lifted the restriction of timings on commercial activities and amusement parks.

The ban was lifted in compliance with the directions of the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC). A notification issued from the office of Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat said the time limits had been lifted from commercial activities and amusement parks.

Besides, condition of 50 per cent work from home is also removed, it said.

Cinemas and shrines are allowed to open with stringent Covid-19 safety measures from March 15, the notification stated, adding indoor wedding ceremonies will also be allowed from March 15 with the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Meanwhile, wearing of mask, social distancing and all earlier restrictions and exemptions will continue to be strictly ensured.

Three deaths and 190 new Covid-19 cases reported in Rawalpindi, Islamabad

Officials of the capital administration said the notification was issued in compliance with the direction of the NCOC after the declining trend in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country, including Islamabad.

But on Tuesday, deaths of two more patients along with 148 new cases were reported in the capital. The number of new cases was the highest since Jan 15.

During the last 24 hours, 5,153 tests were conducted and 75 males and 73 females were tested positive with the positivity rate of 2.8pc.

A woman in the age group of 90-99 years and a male aged 80-89 died of the virus. They were residents of Alipur and H-13.

The officials said 38 cases were reported in the age group of 30-39, 22 in 20-29, 20 in 40-49, 19 in 10-19, 17 in 0-9, 14 in 50-59, 11 in 60-69, five in 70-79 and two in 80 and above.

Nineteen cases were reported from Loi Bher followed by 12 each from Bhara Kahu and G-9, nine from G-6, seven each from G-11, E-11, Tarlai, Khanna, six each from G-13, Chak Shahzad, F-10, five from I-10, four each from I-8, F-8, G-8, D-12, three each from F-11, Sohan, Koral, F-6, two each from Rawat, I-9, G-5, Sihala, and one each from F-7, Kurri, H-13, H-10, Jhangi Syedan and I-11.

Rawalpindi

One person died and 42 more people were diagnosed with the disease in Rawalpindi.

Hassan Mehmood, 84, a resident of Shamsabad, was taken to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on Feb 24 where he passed away.

As many as 24 new patients arrived in hospitals from Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas, including three from cantonment and nine from Potohar Town while 12 were brought from Rawal Town. Three patients were brought from Kallar Syedan, two from Kotli Sattian and one patient each from Kahuta and Murree. Six patients arrived from Islamabad, two from Chakwal and one each from Mianwali, Gujrat and Jhelum.

As many as 348 active patients are in the district, out of whom 108 are in hospitals and 240 home isolated. As many as 439 patients are waiting for the results of their Covid-19 serology.

Around 14 patients are admitted in Holy Family Hospital, 18 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), 22 in Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH), 22 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), three in Red Crescent Corona Care Centre and four in Hearts International Hospital.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that 10 patients are critically ill and on ventilators in Rawalpindi, 40 are on oxygen support and 33 are stable. He said 17,622 people were diagnosed with the disease since March 2020; 14,232 people in Rawalpindi, 1,288 in Attock, 1,471 in Jhelum and 631 in Chakwal.

He said 16,373 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery in the four districts - 13,256 in Rawalpindi, 1,210 in Attock, 1350 in Jhelum and 557 in Chakwal.

Around 766 people died in Rawalpindi Division in the last 11 months of the pandemic - 624 in Rawalpindi, 27 in Attock, 41 in Jhelum and 69 in Chakwal.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2021