16 more die at Rajshahi hospital

Despite the lockdown restrictions, the frontier district of Rajshahi is witnessing a surge in Covid-19 deaths with each passing day.

Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) on Wednesday recorded 16 new Covid-related deaths in 24 hours.

Of them, eight had tested positive for Covid-19, while the remaining showed symptoms of the virus infection, said hospital director brigadier general Shamim Yeazdani.

Of the deceased, eight were from Rajshahi district, three from Chapainawabganj, two each from Natore and Naogaon and one belonged to Jhenaidah district.

Four of the deceased were aged over 61 years, three in the age group of 51-60 years and the remaining were aged between 31 and 50 years.

A total of 245 people have died of Covid-19 at the corona unit of RMCH in the last 23 days, officials said.

Shamim said that 60 people were admitted to the corona unit of the hospital in 24 hours till Wednesday morning.

Of them, 44 people are from Rajshahi, six from Chapainawabganj, two from Natore, five from Naogaon, and two from Pabna and one from Jhenaidah.

Forty two people have left the hospital after recovery during this period.

Besides, 410 people are currently undergoing treatment against 357 beds at the corona unit of the hospital, as the authorities opened a 48-bed facility equipped with centralised oxygen supply on Tuesday.

Of the total patients, 20 people are undergoing treatment in the ICU.

Meanwhile, the infection rate has further decreased in Rajshahi. On Tuesday, 457 samples were tested at two laboratories of the district, of which 151 came out positive.

Authorities have extended the ongoing lockdown in Rajshahi by one more week.

The decision to extend the lockdown to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission in the district was taken at a meeting held at Rajshahi Circuit House on 17 June.