Positivity ratio goes up in Islamabad again.

Byline: Aamir Yasin and Ikram Junaidi

ISLAMABAD -- After a gap of over one month, the capital city has reported over 150 Covid-19 cases, showing an increase in positivity ratio from 1.57pc to 2.65pc.

Moreover, only 6,599 healthcare workers have been vaccinated in the federal capital so far. The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has directed its staff to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest or face the consequences.

As many as 153 cases against 4,338 tests were reported on Sunday and the positivity rate reached 3.51pc. The weekly positivity rate was 2.65pc and it may go up in coming days.

According to a document available with Dawn, weekly positivity was 2.47pc in the second week of January and later dropped to 1.61pc. In the first week of February, it was just 1.57pc. However, it again started increasing and in the last week of February reached 2.65pc.

153 new cases reported in Islamabad, 49 in Rawalpindi, say officials

District Health Officer Dr Zaeem Zia told Dawn that people should strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) as cases were continuously increasing. He said the district administration was focusing on contact tracing to break the chain of the virus.

Moreover, only 6,599 healthcare workers have been vaccinated in the last almost three weeks. As many as 2,128 workers were vaccinated at RHC Tarlai, 1,805 at Pims, 1,010 at CDA Hospital, 745 at Federal General Hospital, 558 at Polyclinic, 350 at RHC Bhara Kahu and only three at RHC Sihala.

Pims Joint Executive Director Dr Minhajus Siraj said there was very slow response by the healthcare workers, especially nurses, due to which he had no option but to issue a circular to expedite the vaccination.

'We are in a hurry to vaccinate the health workers as we have to open the outpatient departments. However, the staffers seem to be reluctant,' he said.

'All registered Pims staff must get vaccinated as soon as possible. Otherwise, strict disciplinary action will be taken...