ISLAMABAD: While 37 people were infected with Covid-19 in a single day, the weekly positivity has further declined in Islamabad district.

As many as 3,162 samples were collected out of which 37 were found positive on Sunday with the daily positivity rate traced at 1.1 percent.

The graph of daily cases showed that during the last one week, single day cases increased and then decreased the very next day. For instance, 44 cases were reported on Feb 28 but on March 1, reported cases were 68, then on March 2, cases reduced to 38 and the very next day, increased to 54.

On March 4, 23 infections were reported but the very next day cases reached 64. Finally on Sunday infections again declined to 37.

However, a graph of the weekly positivity continues to show downward trend in cases. It shows that the weekly positivity during the last week was 1.3pc with 328 cases. However, a week earlier the positivity was 1.7pc and the number of cases was 528.

It is worth mentioning that the weekly positivity is considered more reliable and authentic as cases can increase or decrease on a certain day but weekly data gives a more clear picture.

During the fifth wave of Covid-19, the highest positivity was reported in the last week of January when it reached to 16.4pc and 9,037 persons were infected in a week.

According to District Health Officer Islamabad Dr Zaeem Zia, the cases reduced because a large number of residents of the federal capital have been vaccinated.

“Similarly, casualties have been reduced in the city which is another proof that residents have been vaccinated and they have developed antibodies.

“Covid positive cases at the end of the current week are lowest since start of the fifth wave. Vaccination plays a major part in our wholesome fight against Covid-19 so make sure you are not the one who’s left behind,” Dr Zia tweeted on Sunday.

Furthermore, 14 people were diagnosed with the disease in Rawalpindi district on Sunday and 19 patients recovered from the disease.

According to the health authority’s data, the positivity ratio of Covid-19 cases in the district was traced at 1.02pc. A total of 1,367 samples were collected and 1,353 were declared negative.

In Rawalpindi district, there are 177 active patients. As many as 10 are in hospitals and 167 are home isolated.

Five patients were reported from different parts of Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantonment, two were reported from city areas and five from Potohar Town. One patient was reported from Taxila and one patient arrived from Layyah.

There are two patients in Benazir Bhutto Hospital while one patient each is admitted in Holy Family Hospital, Bilal Hospital and Fauji Foundation Hospital respectively and six patients are in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology.

There is one patient on a ventilator in Rawalpindi, eight patients are on oxygen support and one is stable.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2022