RANGPUR, Jan 20, 2022 (BSS) - Rangpur division recorded 26.17 percent

Covid-19 positivity rate as 88 fresh cases were reported after testing 337
new samples at two laboratories on Thursday.

     Health officials said the pandemic situation is showing a deteriorating
trend during the last more than one week after continuing to improve for the
last four months in the division.

     The daily passivity rate is also showing a rising trend as the number of
Covid-19 cases continues increasing rapidly everyday in recent days.

     Earlier, the daily Covid-19 positivity rates were 20 percent on
Wednesday, 21.29 percent on Tuesday, 17.96 percent on Monday 19.76 percent on
Sunday, 11.31 percent on Saturday and 8.11 percent on Friday last in the
division.

     Among the 88 new patients, 20 were reported positive after testing 149
samples at the Covid-19 Laboratory at Rangpur Medical College (RpMC) at the
13.42 percent positivity rate today.

     "The 20 new patients include 18 from Rangpur and one each from Gaibandha
and Dinajpur districts," said Principal of RpMC Professor Dr. Bimal Chandra
Roy.

     On the other hand, 68 new patients were reported positive after testing
188 samples at the Covid-19 Laboratory at M Abdur Rahim Medical College
(MARMC) in Dinajpur at the 36.17 percent positivity rate today.

     "The 68 new patients include 56 from Dinajpur, seven from Nilphamari,
three from Panchagarh and two from Thakurgaon districts," said Principal of
MARMC Professor Dr Syed Nazir Hossain.

     Divisional Director (Health) Dr. Abu Md. Zakirul Islam told BSS that the
total number of Covid-19 patients rose to 56,330 as 88 new positive cases
were reported today from across the division.

     "The district-wise break up of total 56,330 patients include 12,727 of
Rangpur, 3,851 Panchagarh, 4,505 of Nilphamari, 2,786 of Lalmonirhat, 4,660
of Kurigram, 7,738 of Thakurgaon, 15,149 of Dinajpur and 4,914 of Gaibandha
in the division," he said.