Upper Dir residents concerned at rising number of corona cases

DIR: Fears about the spread of coronavirus in Upper Dir district have gripped the local population after several positive cases were reported recently.

A total of 21 positive cases have been reported so far in Upper Dir and 12 were reported on Sunday alone. Health Department sources said that a total of 90 suspected patients’ swabs had been taken and sent to Peshawar for confirmation so far from Upper Dir and 21 of them tested positive and about 54 tests were still in process.

Two of the patients have recovered and discharged from hospital; however, many tests had not yet been received. Sources feared that the number of Covid-19 patients might increase in the area. Previously, many people in Upper Dir ignored the district administration and government instructions. People’s presence in bazaars, markets and in other public places has been witnessed. Lots of people were even considering the lethal pandemic a joke as they said the epidemic is not so much dangerous as being presented through the media.

However, after emergence of more cases, many are now concerned about the virus spread. People of various areas were earlier hiding the suspected patients among their relatives and neighbours but nowadays they have started identifying the suspected patients who might have come from abroad or other parts of the country.

The deputy commissioner Upper Dir has repeatedly asked people to stay in homes as much as possible. People have also demanded an increase in the number of quarantine centres and isolation centres to handle the situation properly in future in case of the pandemic spreads in the district.