Khyber Pakhtunkhwa advised to monitor cases
The National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) issued an advisory to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department to monitor hospital admission numbers of COVID-19 patients, positivity rate of collected samples, and to beef up disease surveillance over mounting concerns of a second coronavirus wave.
Provincial authorities termed the situation under control, citing the positivity rate which currently stands at 0.7%. So far, only 68 COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment in hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with three on ventilators, 43 on high-flow oxygen and 22 on low-flow oxygen. A total of 5,440 beds are reserved for COVID-19 patients – health department officials assured that the capacity may be enhanced depending on the situation.
Around 4,000 tests are being conducted in the province on a daily basis, although the department has the capacity to conduct a total of 6,000 daily tests. Kits are being acquired in advance for a sudden surge in cases. Health officials expect to be on high alert till March, as seasonal flu, colds and respiratory illnesses due to increasing air pollution levels during winter may result in more coronavirus infections.
600 fines over SOP violations in Hazara Division
The administration of all eight districts of the Hazara Division have handed out around 600 fines totaling Rs. 820,000 for violations of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in past three days. Sixteen shops were sealed, while 2,500 individuals were warned for flouting health protocols.
COVID-19 positivity on rise
COVID-19 case positivity has increased three-fold compared to some two months ago in Punjab, and is now hovering at around 2%, according to the provincial health department. Hospital admissions have also tripled as SOP violations continue en-masse amidst the ongoing ‘wedding season’.
Meanwhile, the national positivity rate hit 2.89% on Sunday, an increase of nearly 6% from the day prior which recorded a positivity rate of 2.73%, revealed the NCOC. A total of 832 positive cases were detected from 28,724 samples, while nine succumbed to the virus. The total number of active coronavirus cases has now reached 10,668, with 562 in critical condition in various hospitals across the country.
