Zubair Qureshi
Though new cases of Covid-19 are declining in the federal capital and the city reported 279 new cases of Coronavirus in the last 24 hours, yet concerns are rising about those already infected.
Three senior journalists and anchors—Ansar Abbasi, Tariq Mehmood and Shahid Maitla—were admitted at hospitals after their condition deteriorated.
According to Ansar Abbasi’s son, Kasim Abbasi his father was recently diagnosed with Covid-19 and spent the first 5 to 6 days in better condition. “Now he is admitted in hospital and I request everyone to pray for his quick recovery. May Allah save us all from every disease,” prayed Kasim Abbasi in a tweet.
Tariq Mehmood, a senior reporter of Hum News is also admitted at a local hospital for the last four days and his family has requested everyone to pray for his health.
Similarly, Shahid Maitla, anchorperson at a private TV channel News One has also tested positive and was admitted at hospital. At social media site, Maitla announced he is being admitted in hospital and he requested friends and colleagues for prayers.
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Joint Executive Director (JED) Dr Minhaj-us-Siraj five patients died at PIMS. However, according to the District Health officer of Islamabad, despite ten deaths a day earlier due to coronavirus, the highest ever single day count of casualties since outbreak of the virus, the positivity rate is still 4.5pc-5.5pc as compared to the national positivity of 8pc.
He said the capital had earlier reported eight deaths in a day twice — on Nov 21 and Nov 26, seven deaths were also reported on June 16 but the figure had never reached 10.
He however, informed most of the patients who died were in critical condition and on ventilators.
Out of the ten patients, five alone died at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), one reported from the Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre (IHITC) and one each from four other hospitals, said the DHO.
About the age group they belonged to, Dr Zaeem said five were in the 60-89 age bracket while one in 50-59, one in 40-49 and three were women.
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, 368 people have died of Covid-19 in the capital while the total number of infections stands at 34,579.
Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat while talking to Pakistan Observer said the cases were reducing and on Saturday, only 279 new cases were added to infections.
