Zubair Qureshi
The Federal Capital on Friday reported 113 new cases of coronavirus after conducting 4,443 tests. This is the first time the number has gone beyond 100 in a month while the infection rate has jumped from 1 percent to 2.5 per cent. So far the city’s total cases of coronavirus are 17,112 and the death toll stands at 188.
A patient of coronavirus expired during the last 24 hours, said the Health Ministry’s website. Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat along with DHO and other officials of the district and health department held a meeting to review the worsening situation of coronavirus and urged the people to follow all the necessary health guidelines and precautionary measures.
District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zaeem Zia meanwhile recommended sealing of another five educational institutions in the federal capital as new cases of coronaviru continue to emerge ringing alarm belss for the health authorities.
According to details, two cases were reported in Islamabad Model School (IMS G-6/1-3), two in a private school in G-11/4, two each in private schools of H-8/1 and H8/4, 15 cases from a private school in I-9/3 and three cases from department of English of a university.
The DHO has sent recommendations for sealing of the schools and the department of the university for an indefinite period. The health teams are also investigating these cases tracing their contacts and for disinfection of the buildings.
A day earlier, Thursday, authorities sealed three FDE-run educational institutions over emergence of positive cases.
An advisory by the District Health Office of Islamabad has recommended to the district administration of Islamabad to seal the three colleges— Margalla College in F-7/4, Islamabad Model College for Girls F-7/4 near Maqbool Market and the Girls College on Bhittai Road in F-7/2— until further orders.
Directives have been issued to police to seal the three educational institutions, Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said.
From each of the above-mentioned institutions, three cases of coronavirus were reported, he further said. Later, according to the colleges’ administrative staff, students and parents have been informed about the decision, and their premises have been vacated.
With closure of the two educational institutions the total number of public sector colleges will be six. A department and a hostel of a local university have also been banned till further orders.
Now the health teams of the District Health Office are tracing these positive cases’ contacts and all their contacts would be tested, said the DHO.
