PESHAWAR: As coronavirus claimed 34 lives and infected 1,248 more people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday, a report said that mortality and infection rates among women surged during the last one month.

“There is an increased four per cent infections in female,” said the report by World Health Organisation.

Physicians said that the number of women Covid-19 patients was increasing because they got infected by the youth, who remained symptomless despite being infected and their exposure to crowded places.

The report says that Covid-19 has killed 2,519 persons since its advent in the province. The number of men died of the virus, according to report, is 1,708 (68 per cent) and that of women is 811 (32 per cent).

So far, 64,982 men (69 per cent) and 29,898 women (31 per cent) have got infected with the virus of the total tally of positive patients.

Physicians attribute the rise in infections among women to their exposure to crowded places. Till last month, the province had 25 per cent infected women and the death rate among them was about 24 per cent.

Prof Syed Amjad Taqweem, the chief executive officer of Health Net Hospital, told Dawn that it was season of wedding due to which women went out for shopping to markets that made them vulnerable to the disease.

Pandemic claims 34 more lives in KP

“Women are safe compared to men because they stay inside homes while men work outside and come across other people. Women also wear veil which acts as face mask and they stay safe from the virus,” he said.

Prof Taqweem said that the main reason of the latest surge in Covid-19 cases among women was attending weddings in halls and communities. “One wedding has at least four to five gatherings with females in full makeup, not wearing masks,” he added.

According to the WHO report, women account for 4,329 (39 per cent) compared to 6,739 (61 per cent) men of the active patients in the province. It said that infection level among women healthcare providers also surged than recorded a month before as the total number of infected female health workers was 1,040 (29 per cent). A month ago, the number of infected men was 75 per cent and that of women was 25 per cent.

Prof Amjad, a former physician of Lady Reading Hospital, said that exposed men and children carried the virus to home to transmit it to women members of the family. “Adherence to precautionary measures is the best option to remain safe from getting Covid-19. The virus isn’t going anywhere and will stay here, therefore, the level of public awareness regarding significance of SOPs is very important,” he added.

Meanwhile, district administration has announced that 12 markets will remained closed on Saturday and Sunday.

A notification said that decision was made in consultation with local traders to prevent transmission of the virus. The markets to stay shut are located in Saddar, Shoba Bazaar, Bajori Gate and University Road.

The notification said that all barber shops in Peshawar would remain closed. The administration also sealed two bus stands and arrested managers, who were penalised. It said that owners of 18 vehicles were arrested for violating SOPs.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2021