80,000 tests conducted so far in Islamabad; 9,242 found infected, 90 die so far
Zubair Qureshi
Director General (DG) of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) Dr Fouzia Saeed has tested positive along with a number of the council’s employees.
The DG who tested positive a couple of days earlier is in quarantine at present at her residence in Islamabad and her condition is stated to be stable.
An admin officer, an assistant and a couple of other employees have also tested positive at the PNCA.
Those who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 are in quarantine and the council is working with minimum number of staff that too is in a state of panic, said an official of the PNCA while talking to Pakistan Observer on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the district administration has also taken serious notice of the shortage of a medicine Dexamethasone (all strengths) at some pharmacies and has directed all pharmacies in the ICT to make sure availability of the said medicines uninterruptedly and at the prevalent rates.
The medicine will be sold only to the consumers with valid prescriptions having stamp and signature of a registered medical practitioner having PMDC registration number on it.
The federal capital on Wednesday reported a total number of 9,242 cases of coronavirus and 90 deaths against 8,857 cases and 83 deaths on Tuesday.
According to the District Health Officer, Dr Zaeem Zia the district health teams investigated 385 cases of coronavirus that means district health teams visited from house-to-house and traced and tested contacts of 385 positive patients. The new cases—223 male and 162 female—have been isolated in their houses, he further said.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), police and district health officials visited the sub-sectors of I-8 and I-10 which were to be issued at midnight June 18 (Thursday). More than 460 cases have been reported from the Sector I-8 and 430 reported from the Sector I-10 prompting the authorities to seal I-8/3, I-8/4, I-10/1, I-10/2 and I-10 Markaz to prevent the community spread of coronavirus there.
While talking to media persons, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat said we had reporting coronavirus cases from sub-sectors of I-8 and I-10 and in view of a steady rise in number of cases it has been decided to impose smart lockdown there.
During the lockdown, food, vegetable shops, medical stores and pharmacies would be allowed to do business. We have taken appropriate measures to ensure essential items don’t go short and mosques will also remain open during the lockdown period so that people could offer prayers while following the strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), said Hamza Shafqaat.
