Zubair Qureshi
Islamabad on Friday reported 620 new cases of coronavirus after Thursday’s ‘highest’ single-day tally of 538.
With this new number, total infections in the capital have surged to 50,096.
Besides highest number of cases Coronavirus positivity rate has also climbed to 8.4% in Islamabad.
As coronavirus cases rise across the capital city, authorities have imposed new restrictions on the public in a bid to stem the spread of the virus, closing outdoor dining at 10:00 p.m.
According to a notification by the city’s district magistrate on Friday “outdoor dining in restaurants will be closed at 10:00 pm in the Federal Capital during the weekdays, and for the weekends (Saturday& Sunday).”
It has also been clarified that takeaway service by restaurants has not been included in the notification.
“However, takeaway activity of restaurants does not fall under this restriction and will continue subject to observation of Covid-19 SOP,” reads the notification.
Given the alarming numbers, a health official has warned against the imposition of more smart lockdowns in the city.
“More restrictions will be imposed in Islamabad to curb the virus spread. Citizens should strictly follow coronavirus SOPs,” he had stressed.
He said that those in contact with the coronavirus patients are being traced, adding that health experts are closely monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, around 114,818 Covid-19 suspects have so far been brought to the quarantine facilities of the division, out of which 15,812 cases were tested positive including 14,401 from Rawalpindi and 1411 to other districts who were provided the required treatment and 14036 discharged after recovery.
According to daily situation report issued by District Corona Management centre, results of 732 people were awaited while 100,401 were declared negative.
“Presently 159 Corona virus confirmed patients were admitted at 26 various quarantine facilities of the district while 1645 were quarantined in isolation including 711 at homes and 934 at facilities ,“he informed.
The total 887 have so far been died in the district while 122 more patients were reported at district Coronavirus centres during last 24 hours, including 54 belonged to Rawal Town,20 Potohar town,20 Rawalpindi cant,6 Gujar khan,8 Taxila,5 Murree and one from Kahuta and Kalar Syeda each, he added.
Meanwhile Chief Executive Officer Health Authority Dr Faiza Kanwal talking to media said that the number of Corona virus cases are considerably increasing as the 3rd wave of pandemic was more deadly compared to the previous in Pakistan.
She advised the residents to wear face masks, maintain social distance and avoid visiting crowded places.
