Peshawar witnesses alarming increase in Covid cases, deaths

PESHAWAR: The numbers of Covid-19 cases are increasing at an alarming pace in the provincial capital.

Also, the ratio of deaths due to the virus in KP is higher than other provinces. Out of the 41 deaths in KP due to the coronavirus, 19 were reported from Peshawar. The number of positive cases in the district so far is 235 out of 844 in KP. On Wednesday, four deaths were reported in KP, all from Peshawar. The number of positive cases on a single day from the city remained 38, a figure that has alarmed the govt as well as the dwellers of the provincial capital. A total of 837 tests were conducted in Peshawar out of which 355 tested negative while five patients have so far recovered at hospitals. Apart from Peshawar, four people have died of the virus in Swat, three in Mardan, two each in Abbottabad, Lower Dir, Kohat and Nowshera and one each in Bannu, Buner, Dera Ismail Khan, Mansehra, Swabi, Malakand and Shangla districts. Six districts in KP, including Lower Chitral, Upper Chitral, Lower Kohistan, Upper Kohistan, Kolai-Palas and Battagram haven’t reported any confirmed coronavirus case so far. For many days earlier, only seven streets of the provincial metropolis were sealed to ensure social distancing from those who tested positive for coronavirus. The number of locked down streets is increasing with each passing day as over two dozen have been sealed now. Many patients are quarantined at different hospitals of city and at quarantine centres. Despite the lockdown for almost a month now, a large number of people are seen on roads, in streets, playgrounds and markets where many shops are open.

The social distancing principles, including safe distance in rows during prayers in mosques aren’t being followed. A large number of people continue to offer prayers five times a day in many mosques. More people are expected to be attending congregational prayers in all mosques from next week after the start of the holy month of Ramazan. Many from the provincial capital have already expressed concern on the situation and want adequate measures to cope with the pandemic.

“People in KP and Peshawar are roaming around in routine. There must be strict measures to make public stay at home as large number of people in trade centres, streets and public places can become a cause of spread of the virus,” said a resident, retired Major Shakil Ahmad Khan. He asked for adequate steps to prevent the spread of virus before it is too late. People are concerned about increasing virus cases in Peshawar. “The number of deaths in KP especially Peshawar is the highest in the country. Also the number of tests conducted is far less and there can be more cases if proper tests are done,” a social worker Arbab Bilal Ahmad opined. On the other hand, the traders of the city want a clear policy regarding the opening of shops and support from the government due to lockdown. “Apart from issuing a clear policy regarding markets and shops, there must be relaxation from the owners to the tenants as well as relaxation in taxes and utility bills to the landlords. Besides, the small traders should be given soft loans and other support from the federal and provincial governments,” president of the Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajiran KP Sharafat Ali Mubarik said.