ISLAMABAD: The deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police (operations) on Friday delivered speeches at Faisal Mosque to create awareness among people of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the harmful effects of drugs.

On the other hand, there was no let-up in the number of cases in Islamabad while two persons succumbed to Covid-19 in Rawalpindi.

DC Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat told reporters that he and SSP Operations Dr Syed Mustafa Tanweer took this initiative to communicate with people who had no access to social media. Earlier, both officials delivered speeches at other mosques.

“Today, we gave a speech about Covid-19 SOPs as well as harmful effects of drugs and plastic bags, water shortage and cleanliness during Eidul Azha. The platform is also used to seek community help for the betterment of citizens. We have decided to deliver speeches at mosques and imambargahs during Friday prayers all over the capital at least once a month,” Mr Shafqaat said, adding that other officers of the administration and police will also deliver speeches at mosques in the future.

The DC and SSP asked people to take precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 otherwise more areas of the capital would need to be sealed. They also sought the assistance of ulema in educating people about the virus and what they could do to protect themselves and their families.

Everyone should remain careful during the upcoming week to avoid further spread of the virus, Mr Shafqaat said.

Furthermore, they urged people to fully support the police in taking action against drug peddlers and to eliminate drug use from society.

SSP Tanweer requested ulema to initiate an awareness campaign, adding that police alone could not fight the menace of drugs.

Senior officers of Islamabad police made similar announcements at mosques in their respective areas so that the public could be directly involved in the campaign. Additional SP Islamabad Farhat Abbas Kazmi delivered a speech at Jamia Masjid in G-6/2 while zonal SPs and SHOs made announcements in their respective areas.

Meanwhile, an increase was seen in the number of the Covid-19 patients in the capital.

Officials of the capital administration said 183 new cases emerged while the positivity rate rose to 8.5pc from 6.2pc reported a day earlier.

During the last 24 hours 2,142 tests were conducted in the capital out of which results of 105 males and 78 females came back positive, the officials said, adding that 35 cases were reported in the age group of 20-29 followed by 31 in 30-39, 30 in 0-9, 27 in 10-19, 21 in 50-59, 18 in 40-49, 14 in 60-69, five in 70-79 and two in 80 and above.

Likewise, 16 cases were reported from Lohi Bher, followed by 11 each from Tarlai and G-7, nine from F-10, eight from F-11, seven each from I-8 and G-13, six from E-11, five each from I-9, F-7 and G-12, four each from G-11, Bhara Kahu, G-10 and E-7, three each from Rawat, G-6, G-8, F-8 and Koral, two each from G-9, I-10, Alipur, Chak Shahzad, Model Town, G-5, and one each from Khanna, Kurri, Kirpa, G-15, Rawl Town, F-15 and F-13.