RAWALPINDI: Five people died while 202 contracted the virus in the twin cities on Wednesday.

In Rawalpindi district, two people succumbed to the virus while 36 tested positive.

As many as six patients were also discharged from hospitals after recovering.

Abdul Ghufran, 75, a resident of Kuri Road, Sadiqabad, was brought to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) on Dec 29 where he died on Wednesday.

Munir Wazir, 67, from Kallar Syedan, died at Holy Family Hospital where he was admitted on Dec 29.

At present there are 816 active patients out of whom 115 are in hospitals and the remaining isolated at home. Since March, 12,792 confirmed patients have been reported in Rawalpindi district, 11,438 recovered and 538 have died.

The garrison city was most affected with 9,478 people getting infected and 422 dying. As many as 8,501 patients recovered from the virus. In other tehsils of Rawalpindi district, 817 patients were detected in Taxila, 711 in Gujar Khan, 325 in Kahuta, 210 in Kallar Syedan, 137 in Murree and 78 in Kotli Sattian.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that 15,325 people tested positive since March including 1,063 in Attock, 990 in Jhelum and 480 in Chakwal.

He said 643 people had died in Rawalpindi Division with 538 in Rawalpindi, 26 in Attock, 19 in Jhelum and 60 in Chakwal.

Meanwhile, Islamabad saw a slight increase in Covid-19 cases as well as positivity rate on Wednesday.

Besides, three deaths from the infection were reported. The officials of the capital administration said 166 more cases of coronavirus were recorded.

During the last 24 hours 3,840 tests were conducted, which saw 102 men and 64 women testing positive.

On Wednesday, the positivity rate was recorded at 3.9pc compared to 3pc on Tuesday, the officials said, adding that utilisation rate of oxygenated beds and ventilators also increased to 35pc and 41pc from 33pc and 40pc, respectively, during the last 24 hours.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2020