PESHAWAR: One person died and 158 more Covid-19 patients were detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday as government issued new guidelines to health workers to get vaccinated and remain in home in case of sickness to stay safe from Delta variant in the fourth wave of the pandemic.

According to Covid-19 situation report of health department, the provincial tally of infections has reached 144,818 of which 134,144 (95 per cent), including 100 recorded during the last 24 hours, have already recovered.

So far, 4,386 people including 62 per cent male and 38 per cent female have passed away of the infection while the tally of active patients is 2,288. The active cases include 907 in Peshawar, 237 in Nowshera, 200 in Abbottabad, 95 in Mardan, 87 in Swabi and 78 in Dir Lower while other districts have fewer cases.

One dies and 158 more get infected in KP

The report said that health department conducted 7,168 tests and positivity level for coronavirus swabs was recorded 13.2 per cent in Peshawar, the epicentre of the virus; 3.3 per cent in Swabi and 2.4 per cent in Mardan while other high risk districts reported less than two per cent infectivity.

Case fatality rate in the province was registered at 3.1 per cent, it added.

Meanwhile, health department issued fresh warning to healthcare providers to adhere to Covid-19 precautions in view of the transmission of the Delta variant of the virus.

A letter issued to the provinces by National Command and Control Centre informed the health workers that the fourth wave of the pandemic started in the country with increase in cases like many other countries.

The advisory issued to the district health officers and relevant people by health department pointed out that the fourth wave was largely due to Delta (Indian) variant of the virus, which was extremely dangerous and entailed high transmissibility and severity.

The Indian variant, it said, was spreading in many areas and regions with 50 to 70 per cent new cases. The more worrisome was the fact that it infected vaccinated individuals including healthcare providers across the country, it added.

It advised the health professionals to remain vigilant regarding coronavirus-related standard operating procedure including using face mask, hand hygiene and social distancing.

The guidelines, compiled by infection control committee, have recommended that the healthcare workers should take leave and stay home if they are sick.

The letter said that healthcare workers including doctors, nurses and paramedics should take all precautions in care of Covid and non-Covid patients with a view to stem transmission of the Delta variant.

The healthcare providers should get vaccinated along with their families, it added.

A report compiled by Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said that so far 17,000 health workers were infected in the country. They include 3,982 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The infected health workers include 1,854 (46 per cent) doctors, 1,578 (39 per cent) paramedics and other health workers and 550 (14 per cent) nurses while 44 have died since the advent of the pandemic.

The infected persons included 2,865 (72 per cent) male and 1,117 (28 per cent) female.

Officials in health department said that most of the health workers had already been vaccinated against Covid-19 and they were being told to ensure immunisation of their family members as well.

“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has already reported UK, India and African variants due to which we are taking more precautions to stem tide of the variants that are more lethal,” they said.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2021