Rawalpindi reports more Covid-19 cases as eight localities go into lockdown.

Byline: Aamir Yasin and Munawer Azeem

RAWALPINDI/Islamabad -- The garrison city reported 55 new cases of Covid-19 and 80 recoveries on Wednesday.

In addition, security personnel have been deployed in eight localities, including Gulzar-i-Quaid, Khayaban-i-Sir Syed, Dhoke Ali Akbar, Kotha Kalan, Morgah and Takhtpari, as well as Narankari Bazaar and Bara Market, to enforce a lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

No deaths of Covid-19 patients have been reported in four main hospitals in Rawalpindi in the last two days.

The total number of cases reported in Rawalpindi district has reached 5,815, with 243 dead and 3,136 patients recovered. At present, 2,436 patients in all seven tehsils of the district are under treatment including 933 admitted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU), Holy Family Hospital (HFH) and Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) and 1,503 under home isolation.

Another 1,739 suspected patients have been admitted to RIU, HFH, BBH and the District Headquarters Hospital and their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Health and HFH and BBH laboratories for testing.

Garrison city sees no deaths in four main hospitals in the last two days

Although Wednesday reported fewer new cases than preceding days, the number of patients in Rawalpindi district is increasing in comparison to other districts in the division. Rawalpindi has reported 5,815 patients in the last four months, while Attock reported 429, Jhelum 381 and Chakwal 220.

Also on Wednesday, the district administration sealed 27 shops because staff were not wearing masks or taking other precautions. Visitors to markets were also seen violating measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus, including not wearing masks.

Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Secretary Mehar Ghulam Abbas inspected bus terminals and public transport vehicles and impounded two vehicles, issued notices to 38 vehicle owners and imposed Rs45,000 in fines for violations in the district.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood told Dawn that the government's 'smart lockdowns' in big cities in the province had brought positive results, with fewer cases reported than in the last month.

He said that the provincial government has finalised standard operating procedures for cattle markets ahead of Eidul Azha so vendors and buyers of sacrificial animals can practice social distancing.

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