A scramble for Covid hospital beds in Khulna

As a woman tested positive for Covid-19 while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Khulna, her family began the hunt to find a bed for her at the district’s dedicated corona hospital.

However, the reply from Khulna Corona Dedicated Hospital was curt. “Not a single bed left, you have to wait for a Covid patient undergoing treatment here to die.”

Though the authorities recently increased the number of beds in the hospital’s general ward, and intensive care unit (ICU) and high dependency unit (HDU), Khulna Corona Dedicated Hospital is scrambling for beds amid a sudden surge in Covid cases in the district.

Four Covid-19 patients died at the hospital on Saturday while two others succumbed to coronavirus in a span of 40 minutes on Friday.

Those who died on Saturday were identified as Aminur Rahman Molla, 80, of Kalia in Narail district, Nurul Islam, 75, of Sharankhola in Bagerhat district, Mizanur Akon, 45, of Morelganj in Bagerhat, and Rehena Begum, 61, of Khulna city.

The hospital authorities are literally struggling to deal with the rising Covid-19 cases as the situation is worsening with each passing day.

Suhash Ranjan Haldar, a spokesperson for the hospital, said that Aminur Rahman was admitted to the hospital on 31 May and breathed his last on 5 June.

Meanwhile, the number of infection rates has been seeing a sharp rise over the past few days. On 4 June, health authorities recorded a 29 per cent infection rate in the district.

Vice-principal of Khulna Medical College, Mohammad Mehedi Newaz, said that 49 people were found infected with the virus on 5 June after testing 182 samples in one day. “Of them, 39 are from Khulna district, nine from Bagerhat and one from Barishal district.”

A day before, on 4 June, the hospital authorities found 110 people infected with Covid-19 after testing 376 samples, he said.

According to hospital sources, there are 20 ICU beds, 10 HDU beds and 70 beds in the red zone and yellow zone.

Earlier, on 30 May, the hospital was converted into a 100-bed hospital and since then, the authorities have been experiencing a rise in the number of Covid-19 patients.

Director of Khulna Division Health Services, Rasheda Sultana, said a total of 35,742 people have been found infected with Covid-19 in Khulna division and 666 people died till 5 June.

However, the health directorate (DGHS) issued a media release on 6 June that said the number of people died of Covid-19 in Khulna division until 8:00 am that day was 816.

Rasheda Sultana also said 31,753 people have recovered from Covid in the division so far.