61 more COVID-19 cases detected in Rajshahi division

A 3D-printed coronavirus model is seen in front of the words coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on display in this illustration taken on 25 March.Reuters

With detection of 61 new positive cases in five districts on Saturday, the number of COVID-19 infected patients in Rajshahi division reached 2,271, said a COVID-19 quarantine and isolation related daily report on Sunday, reports BSS.

Of the newly reported cases, 27 were detected in Bogura district only, taking its total cases to 1,191, the highest number among all eight districts in the division, said Gopendra Nath Acharya, divisional director of health.

He added that 16 more people have also tested positive for COVID-19 in Joypurhat followed by 13 in Naogaon, three in Rajshahi and two in Pabna districts on the same day.

Following confirmation of new COVID-19 cases, the respective houses of the infected persons in different areas in the division were placed on 14-day isolation.

Gopendra Nath said the persons, who came in contact with COVID-19 patients, were asked to remain in home isolation so that the virus cannot spread further.

With the new detected cases, the district-wise break-up of reported COVID-19 cases now stood at 127 in Rajshahi, 79 in Chapainawabganj, 198 in Naogaon, 81 in Natore, 230 in Joypurhat, 1,191 in Bogura, 175 in Sirajganj and 190 in Pabna districts.

Of the patients, 481 have, so far, recovered with 30 fatalities and 389 others were undergoing treatment in hospitals in the division till Sunday morning.

Gopendra Nath said all the positive cases for COVID-19 have, so far, been brought under necessary treatment while 726 others are being monitored in isolation units in different hospitals under institutional supervision and another 458 were released.

On the other hand, a total of 235 more people has been sent to home and institutional quarantine afresh as part of the efforts of bringing all the suspected patients under quarantine while 360 others were released in all eight districts of the division over the last 24 hours till 8:00am today.

Among the new quarantined, five have been kept at home in Rajshahi, 133 in Naogaon, 31 in Joypurhat, 20 in Bogura, three in Sirajganj and 43 in Pabna districts.

With this, the number of total quarantined people in both home and institutional ones stood at 4,221 at present. A total of 42,124 people had, so far, been kept under quarantine since 10 March to prevent community transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Of them, 37,903 have, by now, been released as they were given clearance certificates after completing their respective 14-day quarantine period in the division.

Divisional director Gopen Nath added that utmost emphasis has been given to bring all the suspected patients under quarantine, isolation and testing.

Meanwhile, 72,078 personal protective equipment (PPE) have, so far, been distributed among the frontline healthcare workforces to handle the COVID-19 pandemic through protecting themselves from the virus infection. There are 42,413 more PPE in stock for distribution.

A total of 935 physicians and 1,669 nurses are working in 190 public and private hospitals in the division. Around 1,914 beds, out of the total 4,899, have been prepared for treatment of the possible COVID-19 infected patients.

There are arrangements of 462 beds in isolation units here and 19 ambulances for emergency transportation for treatment of the infected patients.