ISLAMABAD: While the fifth wave of Covid-19 is rapidly moving towards its peak, the federal capital on Sunday reported 366 cases with the positivity rate increasing to 7 per cent.

On the other hand, the city’s weekly positivity, which is considered more authentic, also went up threefold from 1.85pc to 5.38pc.

Meanwhile, two educational institutions have been closed after Covid-19 cases there.

According to documents available with Dawn, three cases each were detected at Islamabad Model College for Girls F-6/2 and Islamabad Model College for Girls G-6/1-4. The institutions will remain closed for 14 days for disinfection and contact tracing.

Moreover, one person died of Covid-19 in the district of Rawalpindi while 124 people tested positive with the positivity recorded at 6.22pc.

According to District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zaeem Zia, 5,225 samples were collected on Saturday out of which 366 were found positive on Sunday.

“We are extremely engaged with high number of cases to trace. We advise everyone to quarantine if you have symptoms. Get vaccinated and get boosted,” he said.

Moreover, he said, on the directions of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), F-9 Park mass vaccination centre is being reopened on Monday (today), adding the citizens should get themselves vaccinated at the earliest.

“Our teams have shown great commitment to ensure safety of the residents of Islamabad and otherwise. Islamabad has highest number of fully and partially vaccinated population,” he said.

According to documents, last week there were 1,680 cases in the capital with 5.38pc positivity rate compared to 563 cases with 1.85pc positivity a week earlier. Moreover, the positivity rate was 2.13pc on January 7 but it rapidly increased and in less than 10 days reached 7pc on January 16.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Health Services Sajid Shah told Dawn that the number of cases was continuously increasing across the city. He suggested to the masses to strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“NCOC has allowed booster shots for people over 18 years of age, so all those who have been vaccinated should get the booster shots at the earliest,” he said.

Rawalpindi

One person died of Covid-19 in the district while 124 people tested positive and 26 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours.

According to the District Health Authority, 1,995 samples were collected out of which 124 tested positive showing a positivity rate of 6.22pc.

There are 628 active patients in the district - 40 in hospitals and 588 home isolated.

Officials said 36 patients reported from different parts of Rawalpindi and Chaklala cantonments, 34 from city areas and 25 from Potohar Town.

As many as four patients also arrived from Gujar Khan, 20 from Taxila, two from Kallar Syedan, three from Murree, two from Islamabad and one patient each from Chakwal and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

There are 40 patients admitted to hospitals - 10 to Benazir Bhutto Hospital, one patient each to the District Headquarters Hospital and Holy Family Hospital, 16 to Fauji Foundation Hospital, 10 to the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and two to Attock Hospital, Rawalpindi.

Four patients are on ventilators, 27 on oxygen and nine are stable.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2022