3 more die, Covid-19 deaths reach 379 in Rangpur division

Three more coronavirus (Covid-19) infected patients died in Rangpur, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts during the last 24 hours ending at 8 am today raising the total number of fatalities to 379 in the division.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, 59 infected patients died from April 10 to May 23, highest number of the toll during the last 43 days, in the division,” said Focal Person of the COVID-19 and Assistant Director (Health) for number of deaths in the Rangpur division Dr. ZA Siddiqui.

The district-wise break-up of the 379 fatalities now stands at 89 in Rangpur, 141 in Dinajpur, 39 in Thakurgaon, 35 in Nilphamari, 21 in Kurigram, 20 in Panchagarh, 21 in Gaibandha and 13 in Lalmonirhat.

The average casualty rate presently stands at 2.03 percent, which is the highest average fatality rate since the beginning of the pandemic.

“Earlier, the total numbers of casualties were 11 between March 9 and April 9, only three between February 9 and March 9 and six between January 9 and February 9 last in the division,” Dr Siddiqui added.

Talking to BSS, Divisional Director (Health) Dr Md Ahad Ali said the number of Covid-19 cases rose to 18,638 in the division as 44 more patients were reported after testing 286 samples at the infection rate of 15.38 percent on Sunday.

Since the beginning, a total of 1,30,770 collected samples of all eight districts under the division were tested till Sunday, and of them, 18,638 were found Covid-19 positive with an average infection rate of 14.25 percent.

“The district-wise break-up of 18,638 patients currently stands at 4,897 in Rangpur, 837 in Panchagarh, 1,566 in Nilphamari, 1,064 in Lalmonirhat, 1,199 in Kurigram, 1,659 in Thakurgaon, 5,670 in Dinajpur and 1,746 in Gaibandha,” he said.

Meanwhile, the number of recovered Covid-19 patients in the division rose to 17,602 with the healing of 47 more infected people during the last 24 hours at the average recovery rate of 94.44 percent.

“Among the recovered patients, 4,577 of Rangpur, 810 Panchagarh, 1,508 of Nilphamari, 1,026 of Lalmonirhat, 1,037 of Kurigram, 1,561 of Thakurgaon, 5,382 of Dinajpur and 1,701 of Gaibandha districts,” Dr Ali said.

Of the total infected people, 61 are undergoing treatments at isolation units, including 18 at ICU beds and four at High Dependency Unit (HDU) beds, after recovery of 17,602 people and 379 deaths while 615 remaining in home isolation in the division.

“Meanwhile, the number of citizens who got the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine remained steady at 5,96,952 since April 26 last, and among them, 3,68,246 got the second dose till Sunday in the division,” Dr Ali added.

Chief of Divisional Coronavirus Service and Prevention Task Force and Principal of Rangpur Medical College Professor Dr. AKM Nurunnobi Lyzu urged people to abide by the health directives while the infection rate of the deadly virus is rising again during the last one week in the division.