RAWALPINDI: As many as 524 people tested positive for Covid-19, the highest since April 23, as the virus claimed three lives in Rawalpindi district and two in Islamabad on Saturday.

As the positivity rate in Rawalpindi surged to 13pc, Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) established two new intensive care units (ICUs) at the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) and Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and allocated more beds to accommodate patients.

Officials of the capital administration said 524 cases were reported out of 4,324 tests, with the positivity rate in the city hovering around 12.06pc.

In Rawalpindi, 169 people contracted the virus and 104 recovered during the last 24 hours.

Positivity ratio surges in capital, Pindi district; ICUs increased in HFH, BBH

Mohammad Jameel, 69, a resident of Railway Diesel Colony, was brought to the HFH on Aug 6 where he died. Mohammad Aziz, 75, from Dhoke Ellahi Baksh was shifted to Rawalpindi Institute of Urology on Aug 6 but could not survive.

Ghazala Aftab, 65, a resident of Mouza Basali, was admitted to Social Security Hospital on Aug 6 where she succumbed to the virus.

There are 1,701 active patients in the district out of whom 167 were in hospitals and 1,534 home isolated.

As many as 50 new cases were reported from the cantonment areas, 44 from Potohar Town, 48 from Rawal Town while five patients each arrived from Gujar Khan and Taxila, three from Kahuta, two from Murree, one from Kotli Sattian, five from Islamabad, three from Chakwal, two from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and one from Gilgit.

Officials said 31 patients were admitted to the HFH, 22 were under treatment in BBH, 59 in RIU, 40 in Fauji Foundation Hospital and two patients each were being treated at Hearts International Hospital and Attock Hospital, Rawalpindi. Three patients were also admitted to Bilal Hospital and four to Begum Akhtar Rukhsana Hospital.

There are six patients on ventilators, 96 on oxygen and 65 are stable.

RMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Umer told Dawn that the number of oxygenated beds in the four hospitals had been increased, adding that there was no shortage of oxygen in the city.

Special wards have been established in the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, HFH and BBH.

Dr Umer said a 20-bed ICU had been established in HFH while a 15-bed ICU at BBH on July 28, adding that the new ICUs were equipped with new technologies.

Besides, hospitals have been providing vaccination round-the-clock, he added.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2021