National

RMCH logs 10 more death at Covid-19 unit

Ten more people died at the Covid-19 unit of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) afresh during the last 24 hours till 6am today, taking the death toll to 223 so far this month, reports BSS. 

Earlier, the death toll due to the lethal virus was 566 in July and 405 in June, health officials said.

RMCH Director Brigadier General Dr Shamim Yazdani told newsmen that among the new 10 deceased, six were female and four were male.

Three of the deceased were the residents of Rajshahi, two each from Chapainawabganj, Natore and Pabna and one from Naogaon districts, he said.

"Among the deaths, four tested positive for Covid-19, five had the virus symptoms and another had post-Covid-19 complexities," he said.

Yazdani added that four of them were aged above 61, three between 51 and 60, two between 41 and 50 and one between 31 and 40. Yesterday's fatality figure was also 10.

A number of 25 more patients were admitted to the designated Covid wards of the hospital during the time, raising total patients to 289, including 158 tested positive, against 513 beds.

Another 19 patients are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. Twenty-three other patients returned home from the Covid-19 unit after being cured during the same time.

Yazdani said the infection rate has decreased in Rajshahi to some extent compared to the previous day.

A total of 53 people have been detected positive for Covid-19 after testing 347 samples in Rajshahi's two laboratories on Monday, showing 15.27 percent positivity rate.

The positivity rate was 24 percent on Sunday, 19.25 percent on Saturday, 29.52 percent on Friday, 25.15 percent on Thursday, 28.63 percent on Wednesday and 28.80 percent on Tuesday 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.

He 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' every day 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.