Abbottabad Covid-19 positive rate hits alarming 7.8 per cent

335 positive cases reported in the district, 45 patients were hospitalised

ABBOTABAD:

Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad has imposed Section 144 in the district making it mandatory for people to wear face masks while visiting public places in Abbottabad district. This order comes into force immediately and shall remain valid for a period of 30 days.

According to a notification issued by Abbottabad Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Mughees Sanaullah, it has become necessary for the public to wear face masks while visiting public places to control the spread of Covid-19. Any person contravening this order will be liable for punishment under section 188 PPC, the notification added.

When this correspondent contacted the deputy commissioner for details, he said section 144 (6) CrPC had been imposed as an immediate preventive and speedy remedy to ensure public safety in the wake of decisions taken by the National Command & Control Center. He warned citizens strict action would be taken against people not wearing masks in public places. He said the decision had been taken following the increase in the number of cases during the third wave of coronavirus.

Sharing details he said that the number of cases testing positive in Abbottabad had increased in the last 10 days to 7.8 per cent which is alarming. He added that 335 positive cases have been reported in the district of which 45 patients were hospitalised. He asked religious scholars and other notables to play their role in raising public awareness about Covid-19 and its devastating effects on people who are afflicted by it.

Chief Executive Officer of Ayub Medical Teaching Institution and Dean Ayub Medical College Professor Dr Umer Farooq told this scribe that 46 Covid positive cases were present in Ayub hospital of which 14 patients were in the Intensive Care Unit. He also stressed the need of adopting strict precautionary measures including wearing face masks and adopting social distancing to stay safe. He confirmed 39 Covid-19 patients had died in Ayub hospital in the month of March.

Earlier the deputy commissioner reviewed the progress of departments regarding corona vaccination, implementation of SOPs and other related matters.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2021.