Rawalpindi sees largest single-day rise in Covid-19 cases.

Byline: Aamir Yasin and Munawer Azeem

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD -- The number of Covid-19 cases reported in Rawalpindi rose to 818 on Wednesday after 85 more people were diagnosed with the disease, the largest increase in patients in a single day in the district.

Four more patients have also died, and five people were discharged from hospitals after recovering.

A 45-year-old woman from Faisal Colony Railway Scheme III died late Tuesday night, the same day she was brought to Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) in critical condition.

In addition, a 22-year-old man from Dhoke Hassu, who was admitted to Holy Family Hospital (HFH) Tuesday night with symptoms of Covid-19, died early on Wednesday after his condition deteriorated overnight.

A 60-year-old resident of E-Block opposite HFH who was brought to the hospital in serious condition with difficulty in breathing also died on Wednesday, while a resident of Gulshanabad on Adiala Road who was brought to Shifa International Hospital in serious condition died late on Tuesday.

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District health authority officials told Dawn the burials of all the deceased were monitored and funeral prayers offered according to guidelines introduced by the government. No one was allowed near the bodies in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

With 85 new patients reported, the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Rawalpindi now stands at 818. Of these, 40 people have died and 220 patients have recovered. There are currently 558 people being treated in hospitals and 171 isolated at home.

Apart from this, 323 suspected Covid-19 patients were brought to Rawalpindi's three hospitals and their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the BBH laboratory for testing.

The officials said that 700 people have tested negative for the disease in the last three days. Samples from close contacts of confirmed patients have been sent for testing as well.

Local administrations have quarantined 1,466 people who were close contacts of confirmed patients; 1,292 people are at home, 171 in hospitals and three are in quarantine facilities.

The samples of 24 members of the Tableeghi Jamaat have been sent to the NIH to be tested for Covid-19.

Commissioner retired Capt Mohammad Mehmood confirmed that 85 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Rawalpindi.

He said the lockdown and...