Zubair Qureshi
Despite setting up several new vaccination centres and mobile facilities and launching an awareness campaign to convince the public for vaccination, the district health department and admin seem helpless before the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the federal capital.
Islamabad on Tuesday, recorded 167 new cases of Covid-19 and three deaths during the past twenty-four hours, according to the District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zaeem Zia.
With the latest additions, the total number of cases in the city climbed to 85,947 while the death toll stood at 796.
The Ministry of National Health services’ portal further reveals that 82,721 cases have been recovered from the virus since the virus breakout last year.
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has added 47 more beds to it Covid-19 ward in view of the large number of cases reported daily.
While talking to Pakistan Observer, Joint Executive Director of the PIMS Dr Minhajus Siraj said the Covid-19 cases were increasing exponentially and the age limit had come down from the 50-year age group to the 30-year age group.
“The patients we are receiving are young and very sick,” said Dr Minhaj adding this is a serious threat and quite risky for the health of the people of Islamabad.
We have enhanced the capacity of the Covid-19 ward by adding 40 more beds. Now we have 140 beds to deal with the new patients, said Dr Minhaj.
Out of 140 beds, 80 have been occupied while 60 are available. About the number of ventilators, he said out of 21 vents, seven are occupied and 14 are vacant.
He requested the residents to keep following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) maintaining social distance and avoiding visiting crowded places.
About the Out-Patient Department (OPD) at PIMS, he said though the staff at the OPD was exposed to Covid-19 directly, yet the management had decided not to close it and the doctors and paramedical staff there were performing duties strictly following the protocol.
All Rawalpindi Restaurants Association on Tuesday announced a vaccination campaign meant for hotel staff would now be open for everyone on this Independence Day i.e. August 14.
President of the association Muhammad Farooq Chaudhry said that vaccination campaign remained functional even during Eid holidays.He said that vaccination camps had been set up in different restaurants of the city.
So far, he said, 8,300 restaurant staff have been vaccinated and vaccination of the remaining 20 percent will be completed soon.
The association’s Chairman Mumtaz Ahmad demanded of the Pindi administration to provide the restaurants fully equipped vehicles for vaccination campaign so that they could also ensure vaccination for all.
