Covid-19: 22 more die at RMCH

A number of 22 more people, including eight female, died at Covid-19 unit of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital during the last 24 hours till Friday morning, taking the death toll to 411, so far, this month.

RMCH Director Brig Gen Shamim Yazdani told newsmen that eleven of those were the residents in Rajshahi, followed by four from Chapainawabganj and Pabna each, two from Natore and one from Naogaon districts. They were aged between 21 and 65, he said.

Among the deaths, six tested positive for Covid-19 and 16 had its symptoms, he said, adding that yesterday's fatality figure was also 22.

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 61 more patients were admitted to the designated Covid wards of the hospital afresh during the time, taking its number to 412, including 186 positive for Covid-19, against 513 beds.

Another 20 patients are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital. Sixty-two other patients returned home after becoming cured during the time.

Demand for oxygen has been rising continuously for the last couple of months in the wake of escalation of patients in the hospital.

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 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.