ISLAMABAD: Streets in several areas of the capital were sealed here on Thursday due to increasing number of Covid-19 cases reported there, Dawn has learnt.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat told Dawn that 10 streets in different sectors were sealed due to increase in the number of virus cases there. The positivity rate of the virus in the capital is increasing too and it has been decided to seal other areas instead of just streets, he added.

One person died of Covid-19 whereas 376 people were diagnosed with the disease in the capital and the positivity rate was 8.1pc, the administration officials said, adding death of a female patient (50-59) was reported. Her address is not known.

During the last 24 hours 4,622 tests were conducted in the capital for detection of virus, they said.

Directions were issued to the District Health Office (DHO) to identify affected areas so they could be sealed, the DC said, adding that the health office would send a recommendation within a day or two for further procedure.

According to a notification issued here on Thursday, streets 10, 40, 42, 45 and 53 in G-10/4, streets 85, 86, 104, and 105 in I-8/4 and street 589 in G-13/2 were sealed. On the recommendations of DHO and on the basis of surveillance and Covid-19 test results from public and private laboratories and hospitals, the areas were sealed and entry and exit therein will be restricted with effect from July 29 at 11:59pm, in the public interest and until further orders.

The exemptions to this order include essential services and supplies like pharmacy and medicine shops, grocery stores and bakeries, patients for medical aid/medical consultation, rationing, drinking water supplies, utilities and emergency, the statement said, adding these exemptions shall be regulated by standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the DC office from time to time regarding prevention of Covid-19.

Citizens are requested to make prior arrangements for their convenience including purchase of grocery items, medicines and reschedule their engagements/office work before the onset of lockdown, the notification said, adding that the Islamabad police is requested to cordon off streets in order to ensure public safety and eliminate further spread of the virus.

Assistant commissioner concerned of the capital administration shall ensure provision of essential commodities and food supplies in sealed areas, it added.

Officials of the capital administration said that G-10 has 135 active cases and I-8 and G-13 has 105 and 51 cases, respectively. The number of infected people is increasing in streets of these sectors.

Rawalpindi

Two people died of Covid-19 in Rawalpindi district on Thursday while 178 people tested positive for the deadly virus.

The deceased were identified as Shahnaz Akhter, 75, resident of Mohallah Qutub-ud-din, brought to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) and Shehnaz Bibi, 45, resident of Kohinoor Mills on Peshawar Road, brought to Holy Family Hospital on July 28.

In Rawalpindi district, there are 929 active patients. As many as 139 patients are in hospitals, including 20 who arrived from other districts, and 790 patients are home isolated.

As many as 64 patients arrived from cantonment areas, 39 from Potohar Town and 38 from Rawal Town whereas 16 patients arrived from Taxila, five patients from Gujar Khan, one patient each from Kotli Sattian, Kahuta and Murree. Seven patients arrived from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, two patients each from Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and one patient each from Chakwal and Jhelum.

As many as 139 patients are admitted in the city hospitals including 33 in Holy Family Hospital, 22 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), 44 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), 34 in Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH), two patients each at Hearts International Hospital and Bilal Hospital.

There are four patients on ventilators in Rawalpindi, 72 are on oxygen support and 63 are stable.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2021