Pindi’s Covid cases go down, capital’s go up

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is silently waning in the garrison city as the infection rate dropped from nine per cent to five per cent on Tuesday.

However, the Rawalpindi Health Department has urged people to continue following all relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The District Health Authority (DHA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Faiza Kanwal told The Express Tribune that the COVID-19 infection rate is dropping gradually, adding that a decline has been observed in the number of new cases that had escalated during the second wave of the virus. She hoped that the infection rate would further go down in the coming days.

Dr Kanwal said that the testing of those who were in contact with the infected patients is still underway, adding that it cannot be ascertained when the contagion would be eradicated.

Meanwhile, the cases continued to surge in the federal capital as 132 new patients were reported in the city during the last 24 hours, a National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) spokesperson shared. He said that as many as 117 cases were reported on Monday while 126 were reported on Sunday. He further stated that 38,395 cases and 428 deaths have been reported from the federal capital so far while 35,253 patients have recovered completely.

Earlier, Dr Kanwal said that arrangements have been finalised for the five day anti-polio campaign commencing from January 11. She said that 2,964 polio teams would go door-to-door and administer polio drops to 885,000 children less than five years old in all tehsils and Union Councils of the district.

She said that 663 area in-charges, 240 medical officers, and allied and tehsil headquarters hospitals would participate in the campaign.

Dr Kanwal said all possible steps have been taken by the concerned to make the campaign a success while anti-polio drops would also be administered at 307 fixed centres.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2021.