17 more die at RMCH Covid-19 unit

Seventeen more people died at Covid-19 unit of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) during the last 24 hours till 6:00am Friday, taking the death toll to 391 since 31 May, reports BSS.

RMCH director brigadier general Shamim Yazdani told newspersons that 10 of the deceased were from Rajshahi, three from Chapainawabganj, two from Natore and one each from Naogaon and Pabna districts.

Among the deaths, 12 tested Covid-19 positive and the rest five had its symptoms, he added.

Yazdani said the hospital had counted a record number of 25 fatalities caused by Covid-19 on Tuesday since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, 76 more patients were admitted to the designated ward of the hospital afresh during the time, taking its number to 468. Another 18 patients are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit.

"We have 405 beds in the Corona dedicated wards of the hospital," Yazdani added.

He said an additional 48-beded corona ward with central oxygen supply system has been launched in the hospital recently to cope with extra pressure of patients.

"We are supplying 8,000 litres of oxygen to the Covid-19 patients every day on an average in the hospital at present but the daily oxygen demand was only 2,500 litres in around two months back," Yazdani said, adding the oxygen demand has gone up to around 3,000 litres, particularly in last one month.

He opined over 60 per cent of the new Covid-19 patients admitted to the Covid unit of RMCH are from villages, clarifying that awareness among the villagers is less compared to the urban people.

Despite symptoms they hesitate to go for tests. “Only they are coming to the hospital when they feel worse. Then we have nothing to do for them, they are dying,” he added.

He said utmost attention should be given to the villages in addition to the urban area as the fatality rate among the villagers is more and the grave situation is aggravating day-by-day there.

Apart from the administration and health workers, public representatives, political activists and volunteers should come forward and work together. Otherwise, the situation may be furthermore alarming, he mentioned.