ISLAMABAD: The District Health Office on Monday asked private and state-run-hospitals to increase the capacity for Covid-19 patients, including provision of high flow oxygen, after 856 people were diagnosed with the disease on Monday.

This is the highest number of cases reported in the capital since the outbreak of the disease in March 2020. The positivity rate in the city climbed to 15.9pc whereas two people also succumbed to the disease. A male and female patient, aged between 80 and 89 years, residents of Alipur and G-7, passed away.

Earlier, the highest number of cases reported on a single day was 771 on June 14, 2020.

According to an advisory issued by District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia to all hospitals, the District Health Office is observing a swift rise in the number of Covid-19 cases. It is expected that within a few days there will be a heavy burden of positive cases in hospitals, the advisory said, adding, therefore, it is requested earnestly that emergency measures are adopted to control progression of Covid-19 cases.

Highest number of cases reported in capital since outbreak of disease in March 2020

The capacity needs to be enhanced in public and private sector hospitals to provide for the incoming flow of increasing symptomatic cases, it said. In order to control the imminent threat to the health system due to Covid-19, it is of utmost importance to address the requirements.

Dr Zia called for provision of more beds in Covid-19 wards besides high flow oxygen for the possible patient load. The advisory stated that further infection must be prevented by following guidelines and hospitals must be disinfected periodically.

All healthcare staff should also wear personal protective equipment (PPE), ensure physical distance of at least one metre among patients in waiting areas and display information, education and communication (IEC) material on hospital premises. Hand sanitisers must be installed for the staff and patients.

Officials of the capital administration said there were 680 beds allocated for Covid-19 patients in 15 hospitals. The occupancy rate of beds is 56.7pc with 386 beds occupied.

There is no bed available in three hospitals, they said, adding two to three beds were available in two other hospitals.

Likewise, there are 105 ventilators in 12 hospitals, 54 ventilators are occupied and the occupancy rate of ventilators is 51.4pc.

During the last 24 hours, 5,359 tests were conducted out of which 485 males and 371 females were tested positive.

They said 163 cases were reported in the age group of 30-39, 161 in 20-29, 146 in 40-49, 113 in 0-9, 94 in 50-59, 69 in 60-69, 34 in 70-79 and 11 in 80 and above.

On Monday, the highest number of cases - 95 - were reported from Loi Bher followed by 55 from I-8, 46 from G-10, 44 from Bhara Kahu, 41 from G-6, 37 from G-11, 35 from Tarlai, 32 from F-11, 31 from G-7, 26 each from G-13, Khanna, Chak Shahzad, 23 each from G-9, I-10, F-6, 22 from I-9, 20 from E-11, 19 from Koral, 17 from G-8, 16 from F-8, 14 from Sohan, 13 each from Rawat, F-10, Kurri, 11 from Kirpa, 10 from F-5, nine each from Alipur, G-5, B-17, Bari Imam, seven from Chirrah, six from H-13, four each from G-15, D-12, G-14, Model Town, H-12, three each from Rawal Town, Tarnol, E-8, I-11, two each from E-7, E-9, Saidpur, E-16, and one each from H-9, G-12, F-17, Gokina, H-11, Shah Allahdita, I-12 and E-16.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2021