9 more die at RMCH Covid-19 unit

Some nine 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 179 so far this month against 566 in July and 405 in June.

RMCH Director Brig Gen Dr Shamim Yazdani told newsmen that among the deceased five were female and four were male, reports BSS.

One of the deceased was a resident of Rajshahi, two each from Natore and Pabna and one each from Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Kushtia districts, he said.

"Among the deaths, five tested positive for Covid-19, one had the virus symptoms and three had post-covid-19 complexities," he said, adding that three of them were aged above 61, two between 51 and 60 and four between 41 and 50. Yesterday's fatality figure was 10.

Some 37 more patients were admitted to the designated Covid wards of the hospital during the time, taking the total number of patients to 342.

Another 20 patients are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.

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

A total of 73 people have tested positive for Covid-19 after testing 255 samples in Rajshahi's two laboratories on Wednesday, showing 28.63 percent positivity rate.

The positivity rate was 28.80 percent on Tuesday, 23.10 percent on Monday, 27.25 percent on Sunday, 34.63 percent on Saturday, 30.21 percent on Friday and 23.82 percent on Thursday last.

Yazdani said over 60 percent of the new Covid-19 patients admitted to the corona unit of RMCH are from villages. Level of awareness among 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.

Brig Yazdani 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 two months back.

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