• Two educational institutions sealed • More Delta variant cases emerge in Pindi

ISLAMABAD: As the Covid-19 positivity rate in the federal capital surpassed 8pc, the district administration on Sunday decided to impose smart lockdowns in high-risk areas.

Besides, it also sealed a number of businesses and two educational institutions.

“We have sealed an academy and a school as there were more than three cases in each of them. Now we are going to impose a smart lockdown in the city as the positivity rate is continuously rising,” Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said.

He said earlier the UK variant was being reported but now patients with Delta (Indian) strain were surfacing, which was more virulent.

According to a notification, seven cases were reported during contact tracing in Islamabad Model College for Boys F-8/3.

The college was sealed and would be reopened once the building was disinfected.

Another notification stated that KIPS Academy in PWD was also closed after seven persons were found infected during the morning session of MDCAT preparation.

All close contacts of the cases have been directed to remain in quarantine. According to data, 134 patients were reported in Islamabad on Sunday, with the positivity ratio rising to 8.02pc.

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia told Dawn that the upcoming Eidul Azha was very crucial, advising citizens to strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“During the Eid holidays, frequent travel and violations of health guidelines may lead to increased exposure to Covid-19 infection. Citizens are therefore advised to avoid crowded places and get themselves and their loved ones vaccinated,” he said.

Rawalpindi

There was no let-up in the number of new cases in the garrison city as the Punjab government issued directives to its employees to submit their vaccination certificates by Monday (today) or else their salaries would be stopped from July 13.

According to a district administration statement, 20 Delta variant patients were detected in Rawalpindi. As there was a possibility of its further spread, all government employees have been asked to submit their vaccination certificates. If the instruction is not adhered to, the list of unvaccinated employees would be provided to the district accounts officer by July 12 evening and their salaries would ultimately be stopped, the statement added.

It further said the Delta strain was extremely dangerous and would spread further if safety measures were not adopted.

So far, 868,897 people in the district have been vaccinated, including 32,127 health workers. On the other hand, the district administration established a vaccination camp for government employees last week but the process was suspended due to shortage of vaccine.

Meanwhile, 52 people tested positive on Sunday and 14 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours. There are 456 active patients - 79 in hospitals and 377 home isolated.

Officials said 16 of the new patients reported to hospitals from cantonment areas, 16 from Potohar Town, 15 from Rawal Town, three from Gujar Khan and two from Taxila.

Of the new patients, 10 were admitted to Holy Family Hospital, 10 were under treatment in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, 18 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and eight in Fauji Foundation Hospital. There is one patient on ventilator, 28 are on oxygen and 17 are stable.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2021