The capital city has emerged as one of the hotspots of coronavirus in the country with 521 cases, which is likely to increase further as gross violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised to control spread of the deadly virus, continue in various markets of the city.

The Covid-19 cases reported in the federal capital surge to 521 on Thursday, after 36 more people were tested positive. The number of coronavirus cases has increased due to the ease in lockdown, and it may cross 1,000 by the end this month, said a senior official of the district administration.

He said that the mortality rate in the federal capital is 0.4 percent. So far, 56 people have recovered and four have died, he said.

According to official data, on May 7, the number of Covid-19 cases rose to 521 from 485 on April 6.

On May 5, total cases in the city were 464, May 4, 415, May 3, 393, on May 2, 365 and May 1, 343.

The government had imposed partial lockdown in the city on March 24 following the spread of Covid-19 but the restrictions were relaxed in the city after April 15, following a government decision to allow some businesses and factories to resume their work.

Following exemption given to some businesses, the shopkeepers in various markets resumed their businesses but took no measures to ensure social distancing.

Similarly, the ICT administration on April 24, ordered closure of shops at 5pm to discourage public gathering but take no steps to ensure the implementation on these orders as it was witnessed in majority of markets that shopkeepers close their shops after 5pm in the city.

According to officials, the Covid-19 has spread in most of the urban and rural areas of the city including various residential sectors including G-series, F-series I-8 series, as well as rural areas including Bhara Kahu, Tarlai, Shah Allah Ditta, Sohan, Kirpa, Khana Pul, Koral, Model Town, Humak, Pindbewal, Rawal Town, and Sihala.

Bhara Kahu, Tarlai and I-10 are the capital's Covid-19 hotspots, the officials said.

The administration has de-sealed Shah Allah Ditta after all patients tested negative, which was sealed by the administration on April 22.

With the rise of Covid-19 in the federal capital, the tally of Covid-19 infections have reached 24,073.

According to the official data, Punjab has 9,077 cases followed by Sindh 9,077, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 3,712, Balochistan 1,495, Gilgit-Baltistan 388, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 76. Till the filling of this report, 6,464 coronavirus patients have so far recovered, and 564 have died across the country.

Meanwhile, the district administration continued disinfection spray in various parts of the city.