ISLAMABAD: Army was on Saturday called in to assist the local administration in enforcing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to check further spread of Covid-19.

Talking to Dawn, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Sahfaat said teams from the army under the supervision of officers from the rank of colonel to captain were assisting assistant commissioners and magistrates to enforce and implement the SOPs in commercial areas and centres.

There are over a dozen teams of capital administration working in the city, including six teams of ACs, he said, adding the army was assisting the teams and checking the violation of SOPs.

During the last 15 to 20 days, the positive cases in the capital remained stable. Though the number of cases was high, the positivity rate remained between 10 and 12 per cent, he added.

The district health office is evaluating the number of positive cases and positivity rate area-wise. Necessary action will be taken keeping in view the evaluation reports and recommendations of the health office.

Five die, over 550 test positive in twin cities

Meanwhile, the DC office issued a notification to implement non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in view of a decision made by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

According to the notification, all educational institutions/schools in Islamabad will remain closed. Educational institutions are advised to shift to online learning only.

Meanwhile, five deaths and 463 more cases were reported in the capital on Saturday.

Officials said the death of a male patient each was reported in the age group of 50-59, 60-69, 80-89 and 90-99, while one female patient died in the age group of 50-59. Two of the deceased were residents of G-8, one each of Bhara Kahu, F-11 and F-10.

During the last 24 hours, 5,308 tests were conducted and the positive rate remained 8.72pc. The active cases in the capital reached 12,877. So far, 657 patients have died of the virus.

The occupancy rate of beds is 62.67pc as 524 of the 836 beds allocated in 16 hospitals are occupied. Out of the total 119 ventilators in 13 hospitals, 66 (55.46pc) are occupied.

Rawalpindi

Four patients died of Covid-19 and 124 more people tested positive in the district on Saturday. Moreover, 889 patients were discharged from hospitals.

The Punjab health services department recommended a smart lockdown in three more localities of Rawalpindi from where 46 new cases were reported within the last few days.

These areas are: ARL Colony Morgah, Airport Housing Society and Khuram Colony, Muslim Town.

Hameeda Bibi, 65 years old, a resident of Taxila, died at Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on Saturday where she was admitted on April 23.

Manzoor Ahmed, 75, a resident of Gulzar Valley, also died at the HFH where he was brought on April 23.

Anjum Sultana, 58, a resident of Lalazar, was taken to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on April 23 where she died.

Sarwar Jan, 63, of Gujar Khan, also died at Pims a day after he was admitted there.

There are 2,009 active patients in the district - 205 in hospitals and 1,804 isolated in their homes. Besides, 675 patients are waiting for the results of their coronavirus serology.

Of the new patients, 31 were admitted in Holy Family Hospital, 25 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, two in District Headquarters Hospital, 121 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, 24 in Fauji Foundation Hospital and three in Hearts International Hospital.

There are 23 patients on ventilators and 120 are on oxygen.

Attock

At least 28 more people tested positive in Attock during the last 24 hours.

According to officials, this was the third highest single day tally of the patients in the district in April.

District focal person for Covid-19 Kashif Hussain said the number of total cases surged to 1,884. He said 17 patients were from Attock, seven from Hazro and two each from Pindigheb and Fatehjang.

He said there are 327 active patients in the district - 321 home isolated and six hospitalised.

He said so far 1,522 people have recovered from the virus in the district.

Meanwhile, the district administration sealed 18 shops and imposed fines on two dozen shopkeepers for violation of government orders regarding closure of shops on Friday and Saturday besides violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Deputy Commissioner Ali Annan Qammar along with officials of the local administration and municipal committee visited various markets and bazaars in Haji Shah and Kamra to check implementation of the SOPs.

The district education authorities also closed seven more educational institutions in various parts of the district after teachers and students of these schools tested positive.

According to a notification issued by Chief Executive District Education Authority Mohsin Abbas on Saturday, two of the schools were located in tehsil Jand and Hazro while one each in Attock city, Hassanabdal and Pindigheb. — Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2021