• Positivity rate jumps over 22pc; four succumb to virus in both districts
• Six schools, three colleges sealed in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: The highest number of Covid-19 cases, since the beginning of the pandemic, emerged in Islamabad district on Tuesday as 1,836 people tested positive and three lost their lives after losing their battle with the virus.

The positivity ratio in the district was recorded at 22.2 per cent. Besides, one person died of coronavirus in Rawalpindi district and 368 got infected, with the positivity rate calculated at 13.5pc.

Officials of the capital administration said all three deceased (70-79) were residents of G-10, E-11 and Chak Shahzad.

During the last 24 hours, 8,234 tests were conducted in the capital.

The officials said 477 cases were reported in the age group of 20-29, followed by 442 in 30-39, 281 in 40-49, 202 in 0-9, 173 in 50-59, 155 in 10-19, 68 in 60-69, 28 in 70-79 and 10 in 80 and above.

Likewise, 88 cases were reported from Lohi Bher, followed by 37 from G-9, 33 from I-8, 30 from Rawat, 27 from G-11, 23 each from E-11, G-5 and I-10, 20 each from G-10 and F-8, 19 each from F-11 and F-6, 17 from G-8, 16 each from G-6, F-10, F-7 and H-8, 15 each from G-13 and G-7, 12 from Bhara Kahu, 11 from Sohan, 10 from Tarlai, eight each from I-9, Khanna and Koral, five from D-12, four each from G-15 and Bari Imam, three each from Chak Shahzad, Sihala, Alipur, B-17 and I-14, two each from Rawal Town, G-14, I-11, D-17, Kirpa, H-13, Chirrah and F-17, and one each from Kurri, H-12, F-15, G-12, D-18, I-15 and Pind Begwal.

The number of active cases in the capital stands at 9,740, the officials said, adding that out of the total 77 are admitted to different hospitals and the rest are isolated in their houses.

Meanwhile, six schools and three colleges were sealed in Rawalpindi district on Tuesday.

District Health Authority spokesman Dr Waqar Ahmed said three colleges and six schools, from both the private and public sectors, were sealed as students and members of staff were diagnosed with Covid-19.

The educational institutions that have been sealed are Government Comprehensive Girls Higher Secondary School Dhoke Kashmirian, Government Islamia High School No. 1 Jhangi Mohallah, Government High School Ratta Amral, Government Higher Secondary School No. 1 Bagh Sardaran, Government Girls Elementary School Kurry Doral Gujar Khan, Beacon House School System Tipu Sultan Campus, Government Degree College for Women Dhoke Ratta, Government Associate College for Women Dhoke Syedan and Government Degree College for Women Mohanpura.

Mr Ahmed said these institutions had been sealed till Feb 3.

As per data shared by the government, 2,724 samples were collected during the last 24 hours out of which 2,356 were declared negative. There are currently 2,446 active patients in the district; 61 are in hospitals including nine who arrived from other districts, and 2,385 patients are home isolated.

A total of 108 patients arrived from cantonment areas while 71 came from city areas, 88 from Potohar Town, 28 patients arrived from Gujar Khan, two from Kahuta, eight from Kallar Syedan, five from Kotli Sattian, two from Murree and 47 from Taxila. Three patients arrived from Attock, two patients each from Islamabad and Chakwal while one patient each arrived from Jhelum and Mianwali.

As many as 14 patients have been admitted to Benazir Bhutto Hospital, 14 are in Fauji Foundation Hospital, eight in Holy Family Hospital, 23 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, one patient each was in Attock and Begum Akhtar Rukhsana Memorial Welfare Trust Hospital.

There are four patients on ventilators in Rawalpindi, 26 are on oxygen support and 31 are stable.

Meanwhile, two persons tested positive for Covid-19 in Taxila on Tuesday. The total number of patients in the area has risen to 25, health authorities said.

Moreover, in Wah Cantonment, all nine campuses of the Sir Syed School have been closed for one week after students and staff tested positive.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2022