ISLAMABAD: As many as 13 more educational institutions were locked down in Islamabad and Rawalpindi districts on Wednesday after several students and staff members tested positive for Covid-19.

The positivity ratio in both the districts, however, saw a downward trend.

On the other hand, two persons breathed their last in the capital. The deceased were a male in his 20s and a female patient who was in her 90s.

In Islamabad district, 575 people were found infected, however the positivity ratio dropped to 8.7pc. On the other hand, Rawalpindi district reported 187 positive cases, with 351 patients having recovered during the last 24 hours. The positivity rate in the district was calculated at 9.5pc.

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia said 35 cases were reported from the nine educational institutions that were sealed in the capital.

Two succumb to Covid-19; over 750 cases emerge in both districts

Eight cases surfaced from Islamabad Model College for Boys G-11/1, followed by seven from Islamabad Model College of Commerce for Girls (Postgraduate) F-10/3, four each from Islamabad Model School for Boys G-7/3-1 and Islamabad Model School No. 1, G-10/2, three each from The City School System E-11/3 Campus and Beaconhouse School G-15 Campus, and two each from Islamabad Model School for Girls G-7/2, Islamabad Model School (I-V) No. 2, G-8/1 and Islamabad Model School F-10/2.

The managements of these institutions were asked to immediately close down their premises till further intimation by the office of the District Health Office Islamabad, Dr Zia said.

Officials of the capital administration said 166 cases were reported in the age group of 30-39, followed by 120 in 20-29, 82 in 40-49, 49 in 50-59, 48 in 0-9, 41 in 10-19, 40 in 60-69, 23 in 70-79 and six in 80 and above. Likewise, 37 cases were reported from Lohi Bher, followed by 30 from Rawat, 14 from G-13, 13 each from I-11 and F-7, 11 each from G-11 and F-8, 10 from I-10, nine each from E-11, F-6 and Bhara Kahu, eight from I-8, seven each from F-10 and Khanna, six each from G-5 and G-7, five each from G-10, G-9, I-9, Koral, Chak Shahzad and G-15, four each from G-6, Sohan, Tarlai, and H-8, three each from G-8, D-12, Alipur, and H-13, two each from Kurri and I-14, and one each from Rawal Town, Kirpa, H-9, F-5, Bari Imam, F-17, G-16, Tarnol, D-10 and ShahAllah Ditta.

The number of active cases in the capital reached 13,848 on Wednesday, out of which 98 were in hospitals, 86 on oxygen support and nine were on ventilators. The rest had been isolated in their homes.

Furthermore, the District Health Authority Rawalpindi has recommended smart lockdowns in two areas - Street 6 in Shalley Valley along Range Road and Habib Chowk Union Council Qazian.

According to Dr Waqar Ahmed,SiddeeqPublic School located along Sixth Road was sealed over violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for seven days besides Government MC Girls High School Teli Mohallah, Government Girls High School Gangal Gulzar-i-Quaid and Government Girls High School Gulyana Gujar Khan were also closed. As many as 12 students and staff members were found infected with the virus.

In Rawalpindi district, there are 2,738 active patients out of whom 107 are in hospitals and 2,631 home isolated. A total of 46 patients were reported from different parts of Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonments, 37 from city areas and 38 of the new patients are from Potohar Town.

As many as 21 patients came from Gujar Khan, 14 from Taxila, four from Kahuta, one patient each arrived from Kallar Syedan and Kotli Sattian, eight patients are from Islamabad, five from Chakwal, two each from Attock, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Jhelum while one patient each arrived from Dera Ismail Khan, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kohat, Sargodha and Sialkot.

There are 107 coronavirus patients admitted to different hospitals of Rawalpindi city, with nine in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, five in Holy Family Hospital, 35 in Fauji Foundation Hospital, 54 in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology while one patient each was admitted to Attock Hospital Rawalpindi, Hearts International Hospital, Bilal Hospital and District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital.

There are five patients on ventilator in Rawalpindi, 62 are on oxygen support and 40 are stable.

Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner Headquarters Marzia Saleem visited the area of Westridge to monitor lockdowns in streets. Health officials informed her about areas where smart lockdowns were imposed. She urged people to stay indoors to avoid further spread of the disease.

Assistant Commissioner Cantonment Anisha Hisham sealed four marriage halls over violation of SOPs. She imposed a fine amounting to Rs200,000 on the administrations of the halls. Asad Marriage Hall and Askari Marriage Hall on Misryal Road were sealed besides Askari Wedding Hall and Zarin Marriage Hall in Dhok Syedan area. Celebrations were going on in the halls when the raid was carried out.

Taxila

The District Health Authority sealed two more educational institutions, one in Hassanabdal and the other in Hazro, after coronavirus was detected in staff and students.

Government Girls Higher Secondary School was sealed after 10 people tested positive; six of them were students and four were teachers. Government Girls High School, Hazro was sealed after staff and students were found infected with the virus. According to officials, these schools have been sealed for five days.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2022