COVID-19 cases exceed 3,500 in Rangpur division

The number of coronavirus infected cases exceeded 3,500 as 88 new patients were reported positive after testing their samples at two COVID-19 laboratories in Rangpur division on Monday, reports news agency BSS.

“The total number of COVID-19 patients now stands at 3,533 in all eight districts of the division,” COVID-19 focal person and assistant director (health) for Rangpur division ZA Siddiqui told BSS on Tuesday.

“The district-wise number of patients stands at 1,111 in Rangpur, 158 in Panchagarh, 418 in Nilphamari, 176 in Lalmonirhat, 228 in Kurigram, 227 in Thakurgaon, 789 in Dinajpur and 426 Gaibandha districts in the division,” Siddiqui said.

Meanwhile, with the recovery of 98 more COVID-19 infected people in a day on Monday, the total number of recovered patients rose to 2,182. The recovery rate in the division is 61.76 per cent.

The 2,182 recovered COVID-19 patients include 765 of Rangpur, 126 of Panchagarh, 304 of Nilphamari, 87 of Lalmonirhat, 119 of Kurigram, 170 of Thakurgaon, 430 of Dinajpur and 181 of Gaibandha districts.

“During the last 24 hours, 370 people were put in quarantine at home or institutions and 367 others released from all eight districts in the division,” he said.

With one more death reported from Rangpur on Monday, the total number of fatalities now stands at 63 in the division.

The district-wise breakup of the fatalities stands at 19 in Rangpur, 15 in Dinajpur, 10 in Gaibandha, seven in Nilphamari, five in Kurigram, three in Panchagarh, two each in Thakurgaon and Lalmonirhat districts of the division.

“Among the total 3,533 COVID-19 patients, 130 are undergoing treatments at isolation units of different hospitals after release of 2,182 recovered patients and 63 deaths while 1,158 remaining in home isolations in the division,” Siddiqui added.

Talking to BSS on Tuesday, divisional director (health) Amin Ahmed Khan said a total of 51,305 people were put in quarantines since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in Rangpur division.

Among the total quarantined people, 45,268 have so far been released while 6,037 are currently remaining in home or institutional quarantines in the division.

“After testing a total of 30,791 samples collected from Rangpur division till Monday, 3,533 found coronavirus positive with the infection rate of 11.47 per cent,” he said.

After receiving a total of 172,316 pieces of personal protective equipment so far, 102,230 pieces were distributed among the health service providers while 70,086 pieces are now in stock in the division.

Talking to BSS, divisional commissioner KM Tariqul Islam said maximum efforts have been put in a well-coordinated manner on preventing COVID-19 spread, providing health services to the infected patients in the division.

“Everyone should maintain physical distance and abide by the health directives of the government to remain safe in the division where a limited scale community transmission of COVID-19 continues at fewer places in recent weeks,” he added.