-COVID infections ratio rises to 8.5% in Capital
-3,449 Coronavirus cases, 40 deaths reported across country
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Amid the rising positivity ratio of COVID-19, the Islamabad administration has announced more restrictions on movement in the federal capital.
According to a notification issued by the Islamabad administration, the out-door dining facility will remain shut in the capital city after 10:00 pm. The markets, restaurants will remain shut completely on weekdays (Saturday and Sunday), the administration notified further adding that the grocery and medical stores will, however, remain open during the restricted period.
The hotels and restaurants will be allowed to offer takeaway services as business activities and restaurant services have been restricted owing to the rising COVID positivity ratio.
It is pertinent to mention here that the daily positivity ratio of coronavirus cases in Islamabad reached 8.5 percent on Friday, the highest in the current year. According to Islamabad District Health Officer Dr. Zaeem Zia, the coronavirus positivity rate in the capital rose to 8.5 percent.
During the last 24 hours, 620 COVID-19 cases were reported, surging the overall number of cases in Islamabad to 50,096. Five more people lost their lives while battling the deadly pandemic during the said period. The DHO said 51pc of the ventilators reserved for the critical patients of coronavirus are currently under use.
Earlier on March 14, authorities in Islamabad had decided to seal three sectors in the federal capital by Sunday night and there were chances that more areas would go under lockdown owing to rising COVID-19 cases.
Sharing a notification on his Twitter account regarding the closure, Deputy Commissioner Muhammed Hamza Shafqaat had said that sectors F-11 (1), I-8 (4), and I-10 (2) would be sealed from that night. “These areas have collectively reported 152 COVID-19 cases,” he said adding that commercial areas and amusement parks in these areas would remain shut for three days a week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday),” he had said.
Early morning NCOC data showed Coronavirus has claimed 40 more lives in Pakistan during the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 13,757. The latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre released on Friday showed the COVID-19 has claimed 40 more lives and 3,449 fresh infections were reported during the period.
The total count of active cases is 27,188. The positivity ratio was recorded at 8.04 per cent during the past one day. A total of 42,845 tests were conducted across the country during this period.
276 patients are put on ventilators across the country, whereas, 2,601 patients are admitted to 631 hospitals.
