12 more die in RMCH Covid-19 unit

Some 12 more people died at the Covid-19 unit of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) during the last 24 hours till 6am today, taking the death toll to 203 so far this month against 566 in July and 405 in June.

RMCH Director Brigadier General Dr Shamim Yazdani told newsmen that among the deceased, six were female and six were male. Five of the deceased were the residents of Rajshahi, two each from Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore and one from Pabna districts, he said.

"Among the deaths, seven tested positive for Covid-19 and five had the virus symptoms," he said.

Yazdani added that four of them were aged above 61, two between 51 and 60, five between 41 and 50 and another between 31 and 30. Yesterday's fatality figure was 11. Some 25 more patients were admitted to the designated Covid wards of the hospital during the time, taking the total number of patients to 314, including 181 tested positive, against 513 beds.

Another 20 patients are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. thirty-three other patients returned home from the Covid-19 unit after being cured during the same time. Yazdani said the infection rate has declined in Rajshahi to some extent compared to the previous day.

A total of 41 people have been detected positive for Covid-19 after testing 213 samples in Rajshahi's two laboratories on Saturday, showing 19.25 percent positivity rate.

The positivity rate was 29.52 percent on Friday, 25.15 percent on Thursday, 28.63 percent on Wednesday, 28.80 percent on Tuesday, 23.10 percent on Monday and 27.25 percent on Sunday last.

Yazdani said over 60 percent of the new Covid-19 patients admitted to the corona unit of RMCH are coming from villages. Level of awareness among the villagers is less compared to the urban people, he added.

He also said utmost attention should be given to villages along with urban areas as the fatality rate among the villagers is more. Apart from the administration and health workers, public representatives, political activists and volunteers should come forward and work together, otherwise, the situation may turn out to be alarming, he mentioned.

Yazdani also said the demand for oxygen supply has increased to a great extent during the last couple of months in the wake of the surge of Covid patients in the hospital.

On an average, over 8,000 liters of oxygen are being supplied to the Covid-19 patients' everyday in the hospital at present. However, the daily oxygen demand was only 2,500 liters around three months back.

The oxygen demand has gone up by around 3,000 liters, on an average, particularly during the last couple of weeks.

Source: BSS