ISLAMABAD: An increase was seen in the number of Covid-19 cases in Islamabad and Rawalpindi districts on Tuesday as 85 more people were diagnosed with the disease.

Positivity ratio in Islamabad district rose to 1.6pc from 0.9pc recorded on Monday.

Of the new patients, four were diagnosed with the Omicron variant. District Health Officer (Rawalpindi) Dr Ehsan Ghani told Dawn that all four patients were quarantined in their homes and their health was stabilising.

The health authority has recommended that smart lockdowns should be imposed in and around the houses of these patients, he said, adding one of the affected patients was a resident of Mansehra and was staying at a hostel located in Shamsabad. The other three are residents of Bahria Town Phase 8, Chaklala Scheme 3 and Airport Housing Society.

Two of the patients diagnosed with the Omicron variant had recently attended a wedding in Bhara Kahu. He said teams have been alerted so they can prevent spread of the Omicron variant.

Officials of the capital administration said that 68 cases emerged on Tuesday as compared to 35 cases reported on Monday. During the last 24 hours, 4122 tests were conducted in the district.

Seven cases were reported from Lohi Bher, four from I-8, three from F-10, F-6, G-9 and F-11, two from E-11, G-5 and D-12, and one each from F-7, Bhara Kahu, G-6, I-10, Kurri, Sihala, D-17 and Sohan.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2022