1,999 tests conducted, positivity rate jumps from below 5pc to 7.5pc
Zubair Qureshi
The federal capital on Tuesday witnessed a slight increase in the cases of Covid-19 as 150 persons tested positive in the last twenty-four hours.
According to the National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC) statistics, a total of 1,999 tests for Covid-19 were conducted during the last twenty-four hours that showed 150 persons were infected with coronavirus and positivity rate also increase from below 5 pc to 7.5 per cent.
Two deaths were also caused in the meanwhile taking the number of fatalities to 733. The total number of cases with new infections in the city stands at 79,371 while the city’s total recoveries are 70,334.
According to the District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zaeem Zia, random sampling of Covid-19 in Islamabad was underway.
Covid-19 prevalence estimation by random sampling in the population is underway in the offices and on Tuesday , testing was conducted in various localities of Islamabad to keep a check on spread as the residents are back from their hometowns, said Dr Zaeem.
On Monday, the health experts had predicted a drop in cases of Covid-19, on the contrary it registered a slight increase.
On the other hand, increasing number of the 30-year-old and above persons are visiting vaccination centres after the NCOC opened this age group’s registration from May 17.
All those falling in 30-39 years of age group are requested to get registered with the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) by sending their computerized national identity card (CNIC) number to 1166 and in return they will receive a message with complete information when and where to get vaccinated, said Dr Zaeem.
According to the health department some 5,000 persons were expected to get registered daily for vaccination in Islamabad. However, the figure can exceed, according to health experts.
All the vaccination centres of the federal capital are back to work from Saturday after two Eid holidays on Thursday and Friday and administered jabs to the visitors.
These vaccination centres are now working on the pre-Ramazan-ul-Mubarak schedule i.e. from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. without any break and six days a week observing off day only on Friday.
Offices are resuming with 50 per cent attendance and shops and businesses will be allowed to operate till 8 p.m.
under strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and now it is up to them (people) how they follow the SOPs, said the DHO.
Unless we follow SOPs that include wearing a facemask, keeping a social distance and washing hands frequently and regularly, we cannot expect to make a big victory against coronavirus, said Dr Zaeem.
Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat also in a tweet urged the people aged 30 and above to get them registered for vaccination. Above 40 can simply walk in any vaccination center and get vaccinated.
