ISLAMABAD: The District Health Office has set indicators to evaluate the spread of Covid-19 in different areas so that smart lockdowns can be imposed as the capital saw an increase in cases with 672 people testing positive and three losing their lives on Monday.

Officials of the capital administration said two deaths were reported in the age group of 60-69 and one in the age group of 90-99. All were male patients, residents of Bhara Kahu and G-13. The address of the third deceased is not known.

During the last 24 hours 7,308 tests were conducted and out of the total 360 males and 312 females tested positive with the infection rate recorded at 9.1pc.

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia told Dawn that work was in progress to evaluate the spread of the virus as per the indicators, including residents’ response to standard operating procedures (SOPs), number of active patients and cases reported in a single day.

Islamabad reports 672 new cases, three deaths in single day; Lohi Bher records highest active cases

“The health office has already categorised areas of the capital into three zones, Red, Orange and Green,” he said, adding that areas under the Red Zone are at a higher risk as most active cases of the virus had been reported there. These areas are F-11/1, Bhara Kahu, Banigala, I-10/2, G-9/1 and G-10/4.

Around 134 cases were reported in the age group of 30-39, followed by 118 in 20-29, 114 in 0-9, 89 in 40-49, 81 in 50-59, 58 in 10-19, 49 in 60-69, 22 in 70-79 and seven in 80 and above.

They said 66 cases were reported from Lohi Bher, followed by 49 from Tarlai, 42 from Rawat, 34 from F-11, 32 from Bhara Kahu, 28 from E-11, 24 from G-9, 23 from G-7, 22 each from G-10, G-11 and G-6, 19 from Khanna, 17 each from I-10 and G-13, 16 each from G-8, Chak Shahzad and F-7, 14 each from F-10 and Alipur, 12 from Sohan, and 10 from G-10. The remaining cases were reported from other areas, the administration officials added.

“A team of the health office is evaluating these areas by applying the indicators to decide which areas have to be put under smart lockdown. The situation has become serious and now we are left with no other option but to take strict measures and action against violators of SOPs to prevent further spread of the virus,” Dr Zia said.

Lohi Bher, as of now, has 5,086 patients which is the highest number of active cases, he said, adding the second highest number of active cases, 2,376, has been reported from Bhara Kahu. It is difficult to put both areas under lockdown completely, the DHO said, adding that virus hot spots in both areas are being identified.

Due to increase in the number of patients and active cases, hospitals are also being over burdened, Dr Zia said, adding steps were being taken to reduce the burden on hospitals by controlling virus spread.

Officials of the capital administration said there were 609 beds and 96 ventilators available for Covid-19 patients in 15 hospitals of the capital out of which 321 beds and 46 ventilators have been occupied.

The occupancy rate of beds has reached 52pc and 47.9pc for ventilators, they said.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2021