RMCH turning into Covid-19 hotspot

Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) is turning into a Covid-19 hotspot as the hospital recorded 51 deaths from the virus in the last six days while 204 more infected people are currently undergoing treatment there.

Of the 204 patients, 94 are from Chapainawabganj district, 77 from Rajshahi district and the rest from other districts of the division, according to the hospital sources.

On Sunday, the hospital recorded 12 deaths –highest of all time. Eight of the deceased tested positive for Covid-19 while the other four had the symptoms and died even before getting tested. Seven of them hailed from Chapainawabganj, two each from Rajshahi and Nagaon, and one from Natore.

Despite the surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths, not much awareness is seen among the people coming to the hospital or in the surrounding areas, increasing the risk of doctors and hospital staff of getting infected.

Head of the hospital’s burn unit, Dr Afroza Naznin, said: “Patients in the general ward are also testing positive for Covid-19 after undergoing treatment for a few days – often after dressing or surgery. This increases our risk of getting infected. We have to do our job but the patients need to be more aware."

RMCH Director General Shamim Yeazdani said: “The Covid-19 situation in Rajshahi is worsening. Strict lockdowns should be imposed immediately. We are going on increasing the number of Covid-19 beds and if it continues we won’t be able to admit any more patients.”

The hospital director also said they are conducting various activities to make the patients and people around more aware but they are paying no heed. He thinks that the administrative activities in the areas outside the hospital are not happening as they should be. He urged the concerned authorities to take the matter more seriously.

Rajshahi Police Commissioner Md Abu Kalam Siddique said regarding the current situation of Covid-19, the Rajshahi divisional commissioner held a meeting with the hospital director, deputy commissioner and other law enforcement officials, where they discussed what everyone should do.

“We are also conducting various awareness activities outside the hospital area including distributing masks. We cannot close down the pharmacies or stop people from coming there. Trying to control the situation as humanely as possible,” he added.

According to a report, signed by Rajshahi Divisional Health Department Assistant Director Nazma Akhter, sent on Sunday afternoon, the number of patients diagnosed with Covid-19 in six districts of the Rajshahi division has exceeded 35,000.

In the last 24 hours, 337 people got newly infected in the division which is the highest so far. The total number of cases in the division stands at 35,165 while 550 people died of this deadly virus.

The number of patients who have recovered in the last 24 hours has decreased in the division. Only 51 people recovered on Sunday as a total of 31,351 people have recovered in the division so far.

Habibul Ahsan Talukder, director of the Rajshahi Divisional Health Department, said they are continuing all kinds of activities to prevent the spread of Covid-19 including increasing the number of antigen tests. He urged everyone to abide by the government restrictions.