ISLAMABAD: Three persons succumbed to Covid-19 and 259 cases surfaced in the federal capital and Rawalpindi on Sunday.

The weekly positivity ratio in Islamabad dropped to 4.62 per cent while it remained at 7.2pc in Rawalpindi.

There were no casualties in the federal capital, however, 192 people were found infected out of 4,289 tests carried out on Saturday.

An official of the Ministry of National Health Services advised citizens to get their loved ones vaccinated as healthcare workers were available 24/7 to facilitate them.

District Health Officer Islamabad Dr Zaeem Zia told Dawn that the situation in the capital was improving with each passing day.

“Though the weekly positivity has dropped to 4.62pc compared to 5.8pc recorded the previous week, people should still adhere to the standard operating procedures and get vaccinated,” he said, adding that vaccination statistics were reassuring in Islamabad.

“It is a major achievement that the positivity ratio has dropped by 1.2pc. The problem is that a large number of people come to Islamabad from other cities as carriers of the virus. Those who are vaccinated will have fewer chances of getting infected and being hospitalised,” he added.

Rawalpindi

Three patients died of Covid-19 in Rawalpindi district and 67 new cases were detected on Sunday as 155 people were discharged from hospitals after recovering during the last 24 hours.

The infection rate in the district stood at 7.2pc.

The Punjab health department has recommended smart lockdown in two areas of the district - Mohallah Kharali Khinger in Gujar Khan where seven people tested positive in a single day and Street No 14 in Shakrial where five cases emerged.

A total of 929 samples were collected during the last 24 hours.

According to data, Noreen Aslam, 40, a resident of Allahabad Westridge-III, was brought to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology on Sept 6 where she died on Sunday.

Mohammad Latif, 60, from Magistrate Colony, was also shifted to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology on Sept 18 where he breathed his last on Sunday.

Mohammad Aqeel, 62, a resident of Shah Khalid Colony, arrived at Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre on Sept 18 but died on Sunday.

There are 1,239 active patients in Rawalpindi district out of whom 142 people were in hospitals and 1,097 home isolated.

As many as 22 patients arrived from the cantonment areas, 13 from localities in Rawalpindi city, 18 came from Potohar Town, one patient each from Kahuta, Murree and Kotli Sattian, two patients arrived from Taxila, six from Kallar Syedan and three from Gujar Khan.

Out of the total patients under treatment in hospitals, 24 were admitted to Holy Family Hospital, 40 were in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, 44 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, five patients were being treated in District Headquarters Hospital, 22 in Fauji Foundation Hospital, four patients were in Bilal Hospital, two patients in Hearts International Hospital and one person was being treated in Akhtar Rukhsana Memorial Welfare Trust Hospital.

There are eight patients on ventilator,72 require oxygen support and 62 are stable.

Meanwhile, three people were arrested from Saddar for violating Covid-19 standard operating procedures.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2021