15 more die of coronavirus in Rawalpindi

Fifteen more people have died of the novel coronavirus in Rawalpindi in the last 24 hours, said, health officials on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the number of patients who need oxygen therapy is increasing rapidly.

According to details, seven patients succumbed to the virus at the Holy Family Hospital (HFH), six at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and two each at the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and the Kidney Liver Transplant (RIUKT).

Some 271 patients are receiving treatment in these hospitals and among them, 244 are on oxygen and 11 on ventilators. Owing to the rapid increase in patients depending on excess oxygen, the system is under pressure. The district health department has suggested eligible citizens get themselves vaccinated.

192 admitted to hospital

In the last 24 hours, 158,692 people were tested for Covid-19 in the Rawalpindi health facilities. Out of this number, 21,084 cases tested positive including 19,413 cases from Rawalpindi and 1,671 hailing from other districts. The authorities treated and discharged 18,016 persons to recover in their homes while observing SOPs.

According to the district corona management centre daily situation report, the results of 1,868 people were awaited while 137,589 persons were declared negative.

There are 192 coronavirus patients admitted to various hospitals in the city. The break up: 17 patients admitted in Holy Family Hospital, 24 in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, 129 in Institute of Urology,18 in Fauji Foundation Hospital and two each in District Headquarter and Hearts International hospitals.

In the last 24 hours, 179 Covid-19 patients were reported. The break-up: 22 belong to Rawal Town, 56 Potohar town, 63 Rawalpindi cant, four Gujar Khan, six Taxila, three Murree, four Kalar Syeda, three Kotli Sattian, nine Islamabad, three Chakwal, two Attock, and one each from Kahuta, Gujranwala, KPK, and Mandi Bahauddin.

Meanwhile District Health Coordinator for Covid-19, Dr Jawad Khalid told APP on Tuesday, that 10,657 health workers and 40,739 people including senior citizens have so far been jabbed themselves at 24 government vaccination centres of the district.

Schools to remain closed

As per the decision taken in the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers' Conference (IPEMC), school classes for grade one to eight will be closed till April 28 in the twin cities, however, the educational activities during this period will be continued through online mode.

According to a notification issued by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), the classes from 9th to 12th will be resumed from April 19, while the annual exam of class five and eight to start from 18th May.

The notification further stated that the exams from class one to four and class six and seven would start from June 1 which will be announced by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) soon. As per the notification, the date of exams could be changed.

The children will attend their schools on alternative days as directed earlier. The educational institutions will strictly adhere to the Covid-19 SOPs.

The transport for the schools and colleges will be opened completely and the SOPs and cleanliness in the buses will be observed as per issued guidelines, it added. The notification further directed the Area Education Officers (AEOs) to ensure the implementation of the directions.

with additional input from APP.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 14^th, 2021.