Infection rate drops to 5.19%

Rawalpindi reports two more Covid-19 fatalities

RAWALPINDI:

The Covid-related fatalities in Rawalpindi registered the addition of another two patients during the past 24 hours while the test-to-positivity ratio dropped to 5.19 per cent.

One patient each succumbed to the pandemic virus at Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant (RIUKT) and Holy Family Hospital (HFH) on Wednesday.

The health officials informed that 190 new patients got infected during the span as well while the number of hospitalised patients has reached 212.

Among the admitted patients, 180 are on oxygen while 22 are on ventilators, they added. Some 1,639 patients are in home isolation while so far 28,218 patients have successfully recovered. The health officials said that the rising infection rate could only be mitigated with vaccination and the implementation of precautionary guidelines.

They stated that vaccinated people have a high probability of surviving as the medicine serves as a shield for them. However, they said that people shouldn’t show negligence even after getting immunised against the pandemic virus.

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They also urged the people to implement SOPs to mitigate the chances of virus contraction.

34 shops sealed on violation of SOPs

The Rawalpindi District Administration, on the directives of Deputy Commissioner Amir Aqiq Khan, sealed 34 shops over violations of anti-Covid standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the Punjab government.

According to a spokesperson, the administration conducted raids and sealed the shops of the violators in Commercial Market, Murree Road, Saddar, Anwar Chowk Taxila, Ali Chowk and Aslam Market Taxila and also imposed fines amounting to Rs10,000 on the violators.

AC Taxila also lodged FIRs against three shopkeepers, he added. The official informed that the DC had directed the ACs and Magistrates to remain in the field and ensure strict implementation of the SOPs and other preventive measures issued by the government to contain the spread of the deadly infection.

The DC urged the citizens to adopt all possible precautionary measures against Covid as the implementation of SOPs is mandatory to control the spread of the virus.

Necessary action is also being taken against the violators, he said, adding that the Delta variant is the fastest, fittest and most formidable version of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 for which special precautionary measures should be adopted by all the citizens.

He informed that the administration had launched a crackdown in the entire district and action was being taken against the violators.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2021.