A number of 18 more people, including four female, died at Covid-19 unit of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital during the last 24 hours till Wednesday morning, taking the death toll to 492, so far, this month against a total of 405 in June.
RMCH Director Brig Gen Dr Shamim Yazdani told newsmen that seven from Pabna, six of those were the residents in Rajshahi, three from Natore and one each from Kustia and Meherpur districts.
Among the deaths, six tested positive for Covid-19 and 12 had its symptoms, he said, adding that Tuesday's fatality figure was 21. They were aged between 21 and 65.
Some 50 more patients were admitted to the designated Covid wards of the hospital afresh during the time, taking its number to 403, including 183 tested positive for Covid-19, against 513 beds.
Another 20 patients are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. Thirty-nine other patients returned home after being cured during the time.
Meanwhile, 127 people were found positive for Covid-19 after testing 558 samples in Rajshahi's two laboratories on Tuesday, showing a 22.75 per cent positivity rate against 22.51 per cent on Monday, 30.78 per cent on Sunday and 45.07 per cent on Saturday.
Yazdani said over 8,000 litres 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 litres around two months back.
The oxygen demand has gone up by around 3,000 litres, particularly during the last couple of weeks.
Demand for oxygen has been rising continuously for the last couple of months in the wake of surge of patients in the hospital.
Yazdani opined over 60 per cent 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.
