Coronavirus situation worsens in Islamabad, 91 new cases in single day DHO recommends closure of NUML, IMCG F-6/2, two private schools on emergence of new cases

Zubair Qureshi

Authorities in Islamabad are up once again to contain an impending yet stronger second wave of coronavirus in the federal capital that has grown stronger with the opening of schools, colleges and universities. According to the District Health Officer (DHO) as many as 91 cases were reported from the federal capital during the last 24 hours.
This is the highest number of cases reported in a day since the end of July and the health authorities are alarmed at this resurgence of virus in the federal capital.
Of these cases, 49 are male and 42 are female. District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia while talking to Pakistan Observer said the health office conducted a total of 2,979 tests in the federal capital and the positivity rate has jumped from below 1% to 3%. A day earlier (Tuesday) the number of new cases in 24 hours was 56.
This is a serious concern for the authorities as there is no let-up in number of cases, said an official of the district administration adding the DHO has recommended closure of a department of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) and a hostel.
The health department has also recommended disinfection of the university as well as hostel buildings and mandatory coronavirus testing of the staff, students and employees of the university.
The health department has also recommended putting not only the infected persons in quarantine but also their contacts for a period of 14 days, he said.
So far, four cases of coronavirus have been reported from the NUML and the district administration can issue a notification for sealing the university’s said department and the hostel any time.
Meanwhile, three positive cases of coronavirus were reported from the Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG) F-6/2. The DHO has recommended sealing of the said college too for a period of two weeks. Moreover, a private school in I-8/4 also reported three positive cases of coronavirus, another in Sector I-8/4 reported two cases. The District Health Office has also recommended closure of these schools for a period of two weeks.