Rawalpindi-The district Rawalpindi witnessed a sharp spike in Covid-19 cases as some six persons have died of deadliest virus here on Saturday, informed sources.
Some 261 patients have also landed in different hospitals after they tested positive for coronavirus and 292 patients got discharged from the hospitals after recovery, they said.
The main reason behind surge in coronavirus case is said to be failure of district government in implementing SOPs of Punjab government issued to control the pandemic. The district government also seemed helpless in closing down the markets and business malls in district on Friday and Saturday according to notification issued by the Chief Secretary Punjab, they said.
Irshad Begum, 73, resident of Mohallah Hassanabad, was brought to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences on March 26 and she died on late Friday night, they said adding that Bushra Mehmood, 77, resident of Adiala Road, died on Saturday at Shifa International Hospital where she was brought on March 26.  
Sources informed Sheza Ahmed, 19, resident of Garebabad, arrived at Holy Family Hospital on March 26 and died on Saturday.   
They said Muhammad Akram, 88, resident of Sadiqabad, arrived at Holy Family Hospital on March 26 and died on Saturday.   
Shahzadi Gul, 62, resident of KRL Road, arrived at Bilal Hospital on March 26 and died on Saturday.   
Muhammad Saleem, 23, resident of National Housing Scheme-2, arrived at Bilal Hospital on March 26 and died on late Friday night, sources mentioned. 
In Rawalpindi District, there are 2001 active patients. Total 184 patients are in the hospitals including 85 belonging to other districts. Total 1817 patients isolated in their homes. However, total 576 patients are waiting their results of Coronavirus serology.   
Mostly patients of Covid-19 were brought from the garrison city as 186 reported out of 261 total new patients. As many as 66 patients are from cantonment areas and 57 from Potohar Town and 63 from Rawal Town. 
On the other hand, the district government has completely failed in closing business malls and markets in areas of Sadiqabad, Commercial Market, Jhanda Cheechi, Tench Bhatt, Dhamial Road, Bakra Mandi and Adyala Road despite a notification issued by Chief Secretary in this regard.
On Friday and Saturday, most of the business centres and markets in aforementioned areas remained open while a large numbers of shoppers visited the bazaars for shopping that too without wearing masks or adopting other precautionary measures to avoid spread of coronavirus.
DC Rawalpindi Capt (R) Anwaar Ul Haq, when contacted for his comments by this correspondent, claimed that almost every market was closed in the district. He said he will take action against violators as per law.