Eighteen more people died at the Covid-19 unit of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) in the last 24 hours till 6am on Wednesday, taking this month’s death toll to 367.
RMCH Director Brig Gen Shamim Yazdani told newsmen that eight of those were the residents in Rajshahi, followed by four from Natore, two from Pabna and Chapainawabganj each and one each from Kushtia and Naogaon districts. They were aged between 11 and 65, he said.
Among the deaths, four tested positive for Covid-19 and 14 exhibited symptoms, he said, adding that last day’s fatality figure was 20.
Yazdani said the hospital also had counted 25 fatalities caused by Covid-19 on July 14 and June 29 last since the pandemic began.
Some 45 more patients were admitted to the designated wards of the hospital afresh during the time, taking its number to 437, including 217 tested positive for Covid-19, against 513 beds.
Another 20 patients are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. Seventy-two patients returned back home after making a full recovery during the time.
Demand for oxygen has gradually been rising for the last couple of months in the wake of the escalation of patients in the hospital.
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At present, over 8,000 litres of oxygen are being supplied to the Covid-19 patients every day on an average in the hospital but the daily oxygen demand was only 2,500 litres in around two months back.
But, the oxygen demand has gone up by around 3,000 litres, particularly during the last couple of weeks.
Yazdani opined over 60% of the new Covid-19 patients admitted to the Covid-19 unit of RMCH are from villages, reiterating 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 continued.
He said utmost attention should be given to the villages along with urban areas 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.
