Hospitalisations, ICU admissions rising

Hospital admissions of Covid-19 patients rose in the last two weeks, but more than half of the beds are still empty.

The number of patients has been increasing in the hospitals of Dhaka and elsewhere in the country due to the recent rise in infections.

Hospitalisations have been steadily rising since late December last year. Most of those coming to hospitals with various symptoms, including shortness of breath, cough, fever, and body ache, are being identified as Covid-19 patients.

Bangladesh recorded 8,407 cases, with the positivity rate reaching 23.98 per cent, in 24 hours till 8am on Tuesday. Although the infection rate is increasing day by day, the pressure of patients in hospitals is still low.

Dhaka North City Corporation’s dedicated Covid-19 hospital Director Brig Gen AKM Nasir Uddin told The Business Post the number of patients was increasing slightly compared to a month before, with more than 10 being admitted every day.

“Seventy-seven people were admitted against 1,054 beds till Tuesday noon. Besides, we have 20 intensive care unit (ICU) patients against 212 ICU beds,” he said.

He further said those coming to the hospital with Covid-19 infections were being admitted only if they had shortness of breath or other Covid-related complications. “If there is no other problem, they are given treatment and are asked to isolate at home.”

After reviewing the situation of hospitals across the country in the last 14 days, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said there were 12,691 empty beds against 13,369 across the country on January 4.

On January 11, there were 12,506 empty beds against 13,426. On January 17, there were 12,165 empty beds against 13,437. Besides, there were 142, 157, and 176 patients in ICUs on January 4, 11, and 17 respectively.

The data shows although more than half of the beds are still vacant, patient admissions increased in the last 14 days, according to the DGHS.

Golam Hossain, the son of a Covid-19 patient, said his 60-year-old mother had a fever and a body ache a few days ago. “She was tested positive and was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s (DMCH) Covid ward as per the advice of a doctor. Now she is better.”

According to the DMCH, 23, 43, 26, 35, 30, 24 and 28 patients were admitted with Covid-19 infections every day from January 11 to 18 respectively.

The hospital’s Director Brig Gen Md Nazmul Haque told The Business Post on Tuesday around 80 patients came in the last 24 hours and 25 of them were admitted. “Of the 25, 18 came from outside Dhaka. In total, around 120 Covid-19 patients and 282 suspected ones are now admitted to our hospital.”

He said the number of patients would increase in the future as case detection was rising. “Then the capacity of hospitals would also reduce. To prevent this situation, everyone has to follow hygiene rules.”

Taher Mridha, a banker, said he had no symptoms but had to take the test complying with his workplace mandate. The result came out positive.

He caught the infection last year as well. He later recovered and took two vaccine doses. “I am not feeling that sick now. That is why I am not taking hospital admission.”

Experts say the omicron variant is spreading in different countries of the world. It has not spread that much in Bangladesh yet, but it may.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Vice Chancellor Professor Sharfuddin Ahmed told a briefing on Tuesday some 20 per cent of the newly-detected Covid-19 patients across the country were found to be infected with the Omicron variant.

“The Delta variant has been identified in 100 per cent of patients through genome sequencing of samples collected from hospitalised patients,” he said.

Talking to reporters at the Secretariat on Monday, Health Minister Zahid Maleque expressed concern over the increase in the number of infections. He said hospital beds would not be available a month later if the infection rate continued to rise.

“We have to follow health rules to prevent further spread of the virus,” he added.