The district administration on Monday decided to open all big shopping malls, which have been closed following the spread of the Covid-19.

An official said big shopping malls, barber shops and other markets will remain open before and after Eid for seven days a week. Government had imposed partial lockdown in the city on May 24 after spread of Covid-19. Later, government exempted some businesses from lockdown for five days a week subject to adopting standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised for controlling spread of the Covid-19 but did not open big shopping malls in the city.

Meanwhile, the number of Covid-19 patients reported in the federal capital rose to 997 on Monday, after 23 more people were tested positive.

According to officials, Tarlai and Sector I-10 have the highest number of cases. Bhara Kahu has the third highest number of cases but almost all of them have recovered. Maximum number of violations of social distancing in the city has been reported from Tarlai and Sector I-10, they said.

According to official data, out of 997 cases, 71 cases were reported from Tarlai, 70 from Sector I-10, 55 cases from Bhara Kahu, 47 from I-8, 43 from Sohan, 44 from G-6, 43 from G-7, 36 from G-8, 34 from G-11, 32 from G-10, 30 from G-13, and 30 from Sector G-9.

Similarly, 27 cases were reported from Sector I-9, 26 from Shehzad Town, 25 from Sector F-7, and 20 from F-10.

According to official data, on May 17 total cases in the city were 947 May 16, 921, May15, 866, on May 14 822, May 13, 759, on May 12, 716, May 11, 679, May 10,641, May 9, 609, May 8, 558, May 7,521, May 6, 485. May 5, 464, May 4, 415, May 3, 393, on May 2, 365 and May 1, 343.

Out of total 921 cases, 113 patients have so far recovered, and seven people have died.