ISLAMABAD: As coronavirus cases continued to surface in several localities, the district administration was asked to seal 20 more streets in the capital on Monday.

Islamabad saw 856 more cases on Monday while the positivity ratio was recorded at 12.7 per cent. During the last 24 hours, 6,730 tests were conducted.

District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zaeem Zia said restriction of movement had been recommended in the 20 localities in order to avoid any further spread of the infection on the basis of activities of surveillance teams and Covid-19 test results from public and private laboratories and hospitals.

Sealing of the following streets has been recommended: streets 8, 12, 17 and Lane 7 of sector ‘G’, Defence Housing Authority (DHA) 2, streets 91, 95 and 95 of I-8/4, streets 57, 59 and 77 of I-8/3, streets 48 and 58 of I-8/2, street 4 of sector A DHA 2, street 21 of sector B, DHA 2, street 55 of Bahria Town Phase 3, street 17 of Bahria Town Phase 4, street 53 of G-10/3, street 30 of G-10/2, street 48 of G-6/1-3 and street 72 of G-11/2.

Teams are in the field for detection of active patients in order to ensure safety of all and to contain spread of the virus, Dr Zia said.

Strict implementation of restriction of movement and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including wearing of face masks, ensuring hand hygiene through use of sanitisers and hand washing besides physical distancing, must be ensured.

“Our teams are committed towards ensuring the safety of the residents. Due to higher numbers of Covid-19 cases in the last few days, we have increased surveillance as well as vaccination.”

Administration officials said 227 cases were reported in the age group of 30-39, 175 in 20-29, 123 in 40-49, 110 in 0-9, 85 in 10-19, 84 in 50-59, 36 in 60-69, 15 in 70-79 and one in 80 and above.

Likewise, 71 cases were reported from Lohi Bher, 23 each from G-10 and F-11, 19 each from Rawat and F-10, 18 each from I-8 and I-10, 17 each from G-11 and G-13, 14 from E-11, 13 from G-9, 11 each from G-6, F-8 and Tarlai, nine each from Bhara Kahu and D-12, eight each from F-6, G-5, Chak Shahzad and Sohan, seven each from G-8 and Sihala, six from G-7, five each from Khanna, Koral and I-11, four each from F-7 and G-15, three each from Alipur, Bari Imam, E-7 and B-17, two each from Rawal Town, H-12, Model Town Humak, H-10 and E-9, and one each from I-9, G-14, D-17, Kirpa, E-8, H-8 and Top City. The addresses of 449 cases are not known.

Taxila

As many as 23 new coronavirus cases surfaced in Taxila and Wah on Monday.

According to data shared by District Health Officer (Preventive Services) Dr Ehsan Ghani, the number of patients in the area is increasing with each passing day. Moreover, according to the spokesperson for Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (PSHD), four cases were reported in Attock.

The Punjab Health Department has urged the masses to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for their protection and cover their faces with masks.

“People should wash their hands with soap several times a day to protect themselves from Covid-19. Contact 1033 immediately on symptoms of coronavirus,” it stated.

Furthermore, six educational institutions were sealed in Kamra with an increase in cases. According to a notification issued by District Education Authority Chief Executive Officer Malik Mohsin Abbas, the names of the sealed schools are: Government Boys Higher Secondary School ARF Colony, Government Girls Higher Secondary School ARF Colony, Government Girls Community Model School PAC Colony, Government Girls High School Minhas Base, Government Girls High School AMF Colony, Government Boys Primary School AMF.

Moreover, in Wah Cantonment, Sir Syed School and college campus four has been closed from Tuesday till Friday as staff members of the institution were tested positive.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2022