Shawdesh Desk:

A number of 18 more people, including seven females, died at Covid-19 unit of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) during the last 24 hours till 6 am today.

RMCH Director Brig Gen Dr Shamim Yazdani told newsmen that six of those were the residents in Rajshahi, four from Natore, three each from Naogaon and Pabna and one each from Chapainawabganj and Kushtia districts.

Among the deaths, six tested positive for Covid-19, seven had its symptoms and five in post-Covid-19 complexities, he said, adding that yesterday’s fatality figure was 13. They were aged between 31 and 65.

Yazdani said the hospital also had counted ever-highest 25 fatalities caused by Covid-19 on July 14 and June 29 last since the pandemic began.

Some 53 more patients were admitted to the designated Covid wards of the hospital afresh during the time, taking its number to 418, including 195 tested positive for Covid-19, against 513 beds.

Another 18 patients are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. Forty-six other patients returned home after being cured during the time.

Meanwhile, 140 people were found positive for Covid-19 after testing 428 samples in Rajshahi’s two laboratories on Saturday, showing 32.71 percent positivity rate.

The positivity rate was 24.32 percent on Friday, 22.88 percent on Thursday, 28.90 percent on Wednesday, 22.76 percent on Tuesday, 22.51 percent on Monday and 30.78 percent on Sunday last.

Yazdani said demand for oxygen has been rising continuously for the last couple of months in the wake of a surge of patients in the hospital.

Over 8,000 liters of oxygen are being supplied to the Covid-19 patients every day on an average in the hospital at present but the daily oxygen demand was only 2,500 liters in around two months back.

The oxygen demand has gone up by around 3,000 liters, particularly during the last couple of weeks.

Yazdani opined over 60 percent 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 further more alarming, he mentioned.