159 new cases reported in capital
A healthcare worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) collects a swab sample from a man amidst the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), at a testing center in New Delhi, India October 29, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS
The second wave of the novel coronavirus continued to surge in the federal capital with 159 new cases reported during the past 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) said on Tuesday.
An NCOC official said that as many as 159 cases were reported on Monday and 212 on Sunday.
He said so far total 36,416 corona cases had been reported from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) with 393 deaths. Some 30,761 patients have recovered completely. Meanwhile, on the direction of the Ministry of National Health Services, the ICT district administration has continued smart lockdown in different streets of the sectors to reduce transmission of the infection.
Its inspection teams are also taking action against those defying the standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) while visiting marriage halls, markets and petrol pumps.
In Rawalpindi, Commissioner Captain (retired) Muhammad Mehmood on Tuesday directed to impose fine on commercial centres defying Covid-19 SOPs.
Chairing a meeting to review anti-coronavirus arrangements, he said that the district administration had imposed a smart lockdown at 25 places in the city while lifting them from four places while the remaining areas will be cleared by December 25.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2020.