Zubair Qureshi
The federal capital has reported the lowest weekly Covid-19 positivity rate since the start of the 5th wave earlier this year. According to the District Health Officer (DHO), Dr Zaeem Zia, the current week happens to be with the lowest positivity rate i.e. 2 percent.
Islamabad on Saturday saw the positivity rate even dropping below 2 percent (1.97 percent). According to the DHO 3,254 tests were conducted for Covid-19 out of which only 64 returned positive.
This is partially due to accelerated vaccination drive in the country and partially due to people’s positive response to following the health guidelines and upholding Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the coronavirus.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 70 percent of Islamabad’s targeted school students have been vaccinated while the District Health Department’s vaccination outreach teams are conducting random vaccination throughout the city.
“We are on guard to make sure no one is left behind in our strife for vaccinated Islamabad,” said DHO Dr Zaeem Zia.
After latest tests and infections recorded in 24 hours, Islamabad’s tally of confirmed cases and recoveries have almost matched with one another. According to the NCOC, Islamabad’s confirmed cases of Covid-19 stand at 134,583 while there are 133,025 recovered cases. The city has recorded 1,016 deaths due to Covid-19 so far, the NCOC data further says.
Last month’s World Health Organization’s (WHO) Covid-19 awareness drive “Wear a Mask, Protect Pakistan” has also contributed to the significant decline in Covid-19 cases
WHO Pakistan launched a public awareness campaign “Wear a mask, Protect Pakistan” with regard to wearing a mask, keeping social distance and getting vaccination shots.
Country Representative of the WHO, Dr Dr Palitha Mahipala heading the campaign distributed masks among the locals in various streets, markets, shopping malls and at bus stops, etc.
“Wear a mask, protect Pakistan, protect yourself and your loved ones,” said Dr Palitha Mahipala in a tweet.
In another tweet, Dr Mahipala said, “Pakistan is doing well but it is always good to have public #health measures. Wearing a mask, practicing hand hygiene and observing social distance is very important. WHO is advocating to everybody to adopt public health measures.”
