ISLAMABAD: While the positivity graph has further declined in the federal capital, 290 more people were found infected and two patients succumbed to the deadly virus on Sunday.

Moreover, the District Health Office has decided to open a mass vaccination centre at F-9 Park after the Eid holidays which will cater to 6,000 to 9,000 people daily.

According to documents available with Dawn, the weekly positivity graph in Islamabad remained 7.78 per cent compared to 9.24pc in the previous week and 10pc in the last week of April. The positivity rate had reached 11.28pc in the first week of April after which it gradually started declining.

Another document showed that 290 cases were reported on Sunday compared to 270 on May 8 and 349 on May 7. The daily positivity was 8.5pc on May 9 compared to 6.84pc on May 8 and 9.1pc on May 7.

When contracted, District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia told Dawn that though the weekly positivity graph, which was considered more authentic as cases can drastically increase or decrease on a single day, was continuously decreasing but it cannot be said with surety that the cases would continue to decline.

Mass vaccination centre to be opened at F-9 Park after Eid

“Unfortunately, last year the country saw a sudden spike in cases after Eidul Fitr because a large number of people went to their native areas and became carrier of virus while returning to Islamabad,” he said.

“However, this year, we were the first to appeal to the residents to avoid travel on the occasion of Eid. Fortunately, people are showing more responsibility compared to last year and are wearing masks,” he said.

Praising the district administration, Dr Zia said it was being ensured that shops remained closed and all businesses followed the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“We also appeal to people that while staying in the city during Eid holidays, they should stay at home rather than arranging get-to-gathers. Everyone should contribute to control the virus,” he said in a message to the residents.

Replying to another question, Dr Zia said people should also get themselves vaccinated because the city would return to normality if everyone is vaccinated.

Rawalpindi

One person died of Covid-19 and 115 more people tested positive in the Rawalpindi district on Sunday while 501 patients were discharged from hospitals.

Saeeda Fayyaz, 58, resident of Shamsabad, was brought to Holy Family Hospital on May 8 where she died.

In Rawalpindi district, there are 1453 active patients. As many as 159 patients are in hospitals and 1294 home isolated. Besides, 683 patients are waiting for the results for their Covid-19 serology.

Of the 115 new cases, 86 reported from the garrison city - 31 from cantonment, 24 from Potohar Town and 31 from Rawal Town. Besides, two patients came from Gujar Khan, four from Taxila, two from Kahuta, 10 from Murree, three each from Islamabad, two from Gujrat, one each from Attock, AJK, Chakwal, Jhang and Multan.

As many as 26 of the new patients are admitted in Holy Family Hospital, 22 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), 61 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), 19 in Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH), seven in Hearts International Hospital and one in Begum Akhter Rukhsana Hospital.

There are eight patients on ventilators, 98 on oxygen and 30 are stable.

Though holding of functions is banned under the lockdown policy, Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq violated the ban and attended a public gathering organised in Liaquat Bagh Sports Complex for the inauguration of a mosque.

Attock

The number of positive cases in Attock increased to 2061 as six more people tested positive on Sunday. Moreover, one patient died of the virus.

District focal person for Covid-19 Dr Kashif Hussain said five of the new cases were reported from Attock city and one from Jand. He said there are 174 active patients in the district and 169 are home isolated and five hospitalised.

Responding to a question, he said the results of 263 suspected patients were awaited. So far, 1,848 patients have recovered from the virus.

Moreover, the local administration along with the officials of the municipal committee and police checked various markets and bazaars to ensure implementation of the Covid-19 SOPs.

A team led by deputy commissioner Ali Annan Qammar launched a crackdown against the violators and sealed over two dozen shops.

Briefing mediapersons, the deputy commissioner said 188 surprise checks were conducted in various parts of the district and 40 shops were sealed for lockdown violation.

He said Rs52,000 were also recovered from shopkeepers as a fines while two shopkeepers were booked for gross violations of lockdown.

In Hazro, a team of local administration along with staff of municipal administration led by assistant commissioner Shagufta Jabeen registered an FIR against a shopkeeper and sealed over two dozen shops for violation of the lockdown.

In Hassanabdal, a team of local administration led by assistant commissioner Zunaira Jaleel raided markets and sealed 30 shops. Fine was also imposed on various shopkeepers besides removing 30 stalls established outside shops.— Additional reporting by Amjad Iqbal

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2021